Chapter 56

"Since when can you create jeeps out of thin air!?" Annabeth exclaimed as our SUV steered past multiple vehicles.

I wasn't some professional but I was much better than a GTA driver, so we managed to maintain good speed without crashing into anyone.

"Did you forget about those metal chains in the war?" I asked back, eyes still on road. "Where do you think they came from?"

"I heard about it." She replied, and I could hear the frown in her voice. "But I thought you prepared them beforehand and simply stowed them away in that pocket dimension of yours."

I thought back to all of our time, and realized there were a lot of my abilities that I've never shown to anyone in the camp. It wasn't as if I was trying to be secretive—a god need not hide his strength—it was simply due to my lack of presence around them.

"Well..." I shrugged. "Now you know."

"What war are we talking about here guys?" Percy butted in.

"Come on, seaweed brain. You can't be that clueless." Annabeth's exasperation was mixed with blatant mocking. And thus restarted their bickering again as we passed Lincoln Tunnel.

The dark hollow tunnel cut off all the sound from the outside. With only the aisle lights and engine noises for company, we sped through the—thankfully—mostly empty tunnel.

Which was why I never heard the flapping of wings until we were completely out in the open. Or in other words, until it was too late. Even then, the sudden start of rain managed to muffle the sound enough that had my ears been even a little less keen we wouldn't have known what hit us.

"Hold on, you two!" I called out to the back with a sigh. 'How many times have I killed them now?'

All the same, the three Furies slammed against our car with enough force to almost topple it to one side.

The path of our vehicle changed, but I drove on unconcerned. The Furies seemed like such boring opponents now, that going out there in the rain to face them felt more challenging than the actual killing part.

The car sped down multiple headlights, zigzagging through the road like a possessed horse—ignoring the furious horns and curses— as we slipped through the wet asphalt, trying to shake off the three bitches. Yet, they held on like stubborn mules that I knew them to be.

"Fuck off!" I started honking the horn loudly. in annoyance. "Don't make me come out there and cream you punks!"

The Furies stopped screeching immediately. There was some blessed silence for a few seconds but their momentary hesitation disappeared soon after, and they slammed down upon the car with renewed force.

Window glass broke inside from the force, the metal was torn apart by the claws, and I lost control of the SUV.

We were in some rural area—woods to one side, Hudson river on another—when our car left the dusty roads and hit into a tree.

Annabeth and Percy groaned in the back seat as I kicked off the car door irritably. "Fine. I'll do it myself."

Before another horrible screech could ruin my day, I leapt out of the busted car and headed straight for the three bats, my already materialized glove extending into a spear.

All three of them squeaked back but they were too slow. My spear cleaved cleaned through one of them as soon as I stepped into the air.

"Curse you halfbreed!" Screeched Mrs. Dodds as her companion turned into dust. "Why must you always ruin everything!?"

The third Fury was smart. She ignored me and dove for the crashed SUV. I would still have more than enough time to strike her down but I hesitated.

The kids gotta fight. At their age, Thalia and Luke were able to fend off all three Furies. If these two can't even handle one, I might as well pack their bags and send them home.

I turned my attention back to the Fury boss. "Why are you still here, you overgrown bat? Getting chopped up two times not enough for you?"

"This has nothing to do with you godling!" Mrs. Dodds screeched once again. "Stay out of this if you wish to avoid eternal torment!"

Snorting, I shook my head. "Why are you even attacking the boy anyway? Even if he dies, I'll still continue the quest for the bolt, you know that right?"

The fury hesitated for a second, before her face twisted in a scowl again. "Do not lie to me, Mikael Gabrielson! Your friend is the lightning thief and you know it!"

...What.

I opened my mouth to ask but the Fury quickly took a chance at my supposed 'momentary hesitation' and started flapping away quickly.

"Alright fuck off, you stupid animal." I grouched, my spear turning to a bow and rapidly letting lose a shower of arrows. "Can't be bothered to deal with your bullshit."

My poison laced Celestial arrows ripped into her wings, eliciting a shriek of pain and agony just before she turned to dust.

I turned back to look at the duo and saw a scene worthy of circus. Annabeth was clinging to the Fury's back—riding the monster like a Rodeo—with her hand pressed against her leathery skin, electricity dancing along the edges. The Fury shrieked, buckling about, but could do nothing as Riptide came stabbing towards her heart, finally putting the poor monster down for good.

I clapped enthusiastically. "Well done guys, such superb teamwork! Why, if I didn't know better I'd say you were doing this for years!"

They both scowled at me. "Shut up."

I laughed aloud, before turning deeper into the woods. "C'mon, we need to go."

-----------------------------

We started out trek through the woods just as the sun set completely.

"Wait, why are we going into the forest again?" Percy asked with a groan, his foot almost slipping into a wild vine again.

"The Furies knew where we were going to be." I replied, navigating my way through the dark forest effortlessly. "Which means so does the other monsters. Our quest is probably being blasted on Hephaestus T.V right now, and our name printed on the first page of Olympus weekly."

"Okaaay, but why through these woods? We've lost all our supplies in the destroyed car, how are we going to live in a jungle?"

"I've lived half my life in forests, boy. There's no one better than me to guide you through here." I replied, my eyes constantly searching for any irregularities. "Except perhaps the hunters. But I bet I could give them a run for their money."

Of course, my real reason was much more exciting than that. Atleast for me.

I knew something was different about this forest. The woods around Hudson river weren't this deep, and the air wasn't this harsh and quiet. But the most giving of all signs must be the unmistakable traces of mist and Mystiokinesis in the air. The magic was supposed to lead us somewhere, almost like a passive beacon that unsuspecting fools would subconsciously follow.

And the direction it came from was deeper in the woods, thus our current trek.

'It must be a way to lure some helpless dinner.' I concluded after coping a feel for the magic. 'But what monster lures people like this?'

Normally I'd have already flown over the area, searching every corner for the source of magic, but with these two...

'On foot like a common soldier.' I sighed, glancing at my two blundering companions. "Be ready for a fight you two."

The woods parted to reveal light up ahead; neon fluorescent type.

"Mmm...I could smell.." Percy started, sniffling the air. "...French fries? hmm...and yummy greasy cheeseburgers..."

"Me too." Annabeth agreed.

Both of their mouths were starting to water as they turned to me pleadingly.

I frowned. I couldn't smell anything, which was impossible if these two could do so. Perhaps the magic was messing with their brains?

'...Perhaps the Lamia reborn?' I wondered, feeling a small surge of anger and excitement building up.

"Keep your guard up, both of you. I've got a bad feeling about this."

I shouldn't, of course. Even if the Lamia was here, I should be able to tear her apart pieces to pieces. Her magic probably wouldn't even work on me anymore. And yet the memories of standing upon the hill, helpless at my sister's death, was too stark a reminder to ignore.

'But if this truly is the Lamia...' I felt a smile curving up on my face. This time, her death wouldn't be as quick as before.

The other two didn't look convinced but didn't question me either.

Soon we came upon an empty double lane dusty road in the middle of the forest. On the other side of the road was an abandoned gas station, with an old tattered up movie billboard. The only thing that looked to have some life in the whole area was an old building that was the source of neon light.

The smell of food seemed to have dulled their senses because both the kids started on without me. I followed with a sigh.

Perhaps it was better to let them experience the error of their ways, and they'll know to listen next time.

"What the heck does that say?" Percy asked, as we approached the low but long building—like a warehouse—with a neon sign stuck on front reading 'Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium'.

"I don't know." Annabeth replied.

Ah, their dyslexia. A good thing I wasn't plagued with the condition. Though that was most likely thanks to my mother's lineage. It felt good, being able to understand any language.

I announced the name to the kids, before stalking forward. "Be weary, you two."

"The lights are on inside," Annabeth said. "So it's probably open."

"A snack bar?" Percy wistfully asked.

"A snack bar." The girl agreed.

I sighed. "You two do know that I can simply create food if you get hungry?"

They scampered inside anyway.

I was disappointed. I expected a better showing from the two, especially from a daughter of Athena. It was natural for Percy to be dumb and ignorant—he was quite new to this afterall. But Annabeth had been preparing for this very moment for half her life.

I expected better.

"A snack bar in the middle of a forest." I muttered, moving after them.

Would Thalia and Luke have made such stupid mistakes? Somehow, I doubted it. Perhaps it was harsh to compare the two pairs, but I found myself doing so anyway.

I huffed. Then again, perhaps it was better they were so different. Atleast they won't turn out like Luke in the end. And they were both alive still.

We passed through the acre wide open area in front of the warehouse. Most of the space was taken by cement statues littering everywhere. They ranged from humans to animals, adults to children, males to females. There were even some satyrs playing pipes.

I approached the statues as the excited duo moved for the warehouse, keeping my ears focused on them.

The statues had made something click in my mind. The only being I knew who'd lure people through magic, only to make a statue out of them, was Medusa.

I heard the door to the warehouse open, before hearing the sound of an old woman talking to the kids.

I frowned. Could they handle such a monster? Or was I expecting way too much from a couple of brats?

'Thalia would've handled her with ease. And she didn't have me training her for half a year...'

Could Percy do the same? Maybe, maybe not. I decided to wait and see.

'Observe' I shifted my attention to one of the Satyr statues, though still keeping my senses upon the kids and hearing every single word.

Ferdinand Underwood

Race: Statue (Satyr)

Tier: 2

Level: 154

Status: Dead

There was another option to view the statue's stats but I dismissed it. This was more than incriminating enough.

'Medusa...' I recalled the list given to me by Hephaestus.

[Medusa's head

Nemean Lion's Pelt

Chimera's blood]

These were the things requested for my armour...

It had to be luck, surely? Or was I being helped by some friendly Deity?

'Whatever.' I dismissed the subject, walking inside the warehouse—towards my innocent little companions.

I found them eating burgers from Medusa's hands.

'Fair enough.'

"Oh, my dears!" The monster exclaimed, looking like an old lady from the east, with her face covered by a thin cloth—only her eyes visible behind a black gauze. "You never told me you had a friend!"

'A false show of surprise.' She knew about me since the start.

The masked woman quickly left the food-counter to approach me. "Please dear, come with me. There is food for everyone here."

'Observe'

Medusa

Race: Monster (Gorgon)

Tier: 4

Level: 200 (Max)

Mana: 200,000/200,000

Stamina: 108,000/108,000

Health: 90,000/90,000

Stats

Strength: 184

Speed: 208

Dexterity: 212

Endurance: 216

Constitution: 180

Mental: 40

Spirit: 400

Decent spirit but...yea, nothing special. Not that I actually expected a challenge of course, but your perception gets skewed when you know you're about to face a historically acclaimed monster. Especially when the said monster was about to have the honour of being used in forging of my amour.

I wanted the strongest monsters to contribute, and Medusa fell short by quite a margin.

'I can only hope her unique ability is more...powerful.'

I let the wannabe granny escort me to the food-counter, a brow raising in amusement at noticing that she made sure to lock the door behind us.

Even as we walked, I could hear a cacophony of hisses coming from her covered head, and absently wondered how my companions were being deceived by such an amateur attempt at disguise.

Bemused, I passed the cozy warehouse alongside Medusa. We soon entered the dining area where multiple picnic tables were arranged in a messy row. The room contained everything needed for a small party; a fast-food counter with a grill, a soda fountain, a pretzel heater, a nacho cheese dispenser...

"Please enjoy the food!" The monster curtsied enthusiastically, yet it was easy to pick up the amused mocking barbs hidden in her words. "It is completely free for such...nice orphans. My treat, if you will.".

It was safe to say that she did not buy Percy's story of us being in a circus caravan.

"Thank you, ma'am." Annabeth's polite reply came.

A flicker of annoyance danced in Medusa's eyes before vanishing behind her façade.

"Quite alright Annabeth." She said. "You have such beautiful gray eyes, child."

My eyes whipped towards the girl, hoping to see some manner of suspicions...there were none.

So busy were they on gobbling up their food—double cheeseburgers, vanilla shakes, and XXL servings of French fries—that they completely missed the blatant fuck up by the monster.

I sighed. "I expected better from you, Anna lite."

Her striking gray eyes were muddled with sleep as they stared at me confused...and a deep sated fear of judgement.

"A stranger seems to know your name without you informing them, what does that tell you? What does that mean in the life of a demigod?"

As if coming off of a high haze, the kids blinked away their sleep, my words finally going through their heads.

Annabeth realized faster, widened eyes turning to stare at Medusa like a deer in headlights.

The monster quickly hid her murderous eyes behind a 'gentle' smile. "Now now, dear. That's quite an accusation against a poor old lady like me. The journey through woods must've been quite taking, so I unders—"

"Oh shut up, you scaly coffin-dodger." I stood up. "Your reptilian stench sickens my sensitive nose. Plus, you accepted them being demigods quite easily for a mortal. Shoddy actor, that's what you are."

There was a moment of silence before the monster reacted, her eyes glinting dangerously.

"You know, I had planned to preserve your statue for ages to come." Her old lady persona evaporated in a second as she came to her feet, a fearsome aura brewing around her "Now? Now I will enjoy destroying it piece by piece!"

And then the thin cloth covering her head fell off.

"Medusa!" Annabeth exclaimed, dragging a sleepy Percy with her to the ground. "Don't look at her face!"

I looked at her face. Of course I did.

[Fear negated by Gamer's mind]

[Petrification negated by Mystiokinesis Resistance (Lvl 6)]

She was an ugly thing indeed— with a grotesquely twisted sneering face that stared at me with reptilian eyes and a wide snake-like jaw. And in place of hairs was a nest of snakes that flared up at me as a single unit. "Die!"

Nothing happened.

We stood staring at each other for a few seconds before Medusa frowned. "...What?"

"I'm more god than mortal, you know?" I shrugged, reaching in my inventory to end this. "I doubt your little tricks will work on me. I'd wondered though, so good to know."

She looked incredulous for a second before screaming in rage. "I shall tear you apart myself then!"

She bolted towards me, her long and sharp claws extended, glinting in the low light.

I ducked under her swipe—entering her guard—and plunged one of my twin short swords into her throat, before sauntering out of her wild backward claw swing. She fell on the ground, gurgling blood, her neck already starting to become dust.

My second sword decapitated her head cleanly.

With a flourish, I let my sword turn into gloves and back into my inventory. I touched the decapitated head with my foot and it transformed into motes of light as well, following after Stormbreaker.

"And that, children, is why I think you two are not ready for this quest." I announced, turning to the duo.

Annabeth glanced at me, before flinching away.

I sighed. Maybe I was being too harsh on her. She was still a twelve year old after all.

"C'mon you two. I'll make us some food."