Reap what you have sown

"Dimitris, wake up. They're about to announce the winner of the specialty category."

"Don't care."

I really didn't care. After all we had been through in the time fissure, we didn't get to rest a minute and were immediately thrown into the battle royale. Following up with a sleepless night and the performed exorcism got me to an all time low. I was exhausted.

But this few hours of sleep did help me recharge.

"Dimitris…"

"Yes yes, I'm aware."

Even if I didn't care, it was an important thing to witness. After all this would determine my future as well.

[completed analysis of specialties showcased.]

[disclaimer: even considering only one of his exhibitions, there really was no other possible choice.]

[winner of the specialty competition: Dimitris Damocles.]

The moment the Akashic Records declared my win, the cold energy from my vow to the Styx started to release my heart. The freezing shackles that threatened me to become the big Pig's subordinate were freed and I knew for a fact that the bastard was not happy about it.

"Well, I guess there really wasn't any other choice."

"Did you doubt me Odysseus?"

"How could I, my King, those fools could not even hope to reach your ankles."

"…"

I felt hot. My King was what I had thought of him during those moments and him bringing it up now, when I was still weakened and half asleep, was quite endearing.

"Do you… not like it?"

"No! It's just… forget it. Keep using my name!"

What's wrong with me?

I was spiralling, it was the first time I felt like stuttering in front of someone.

For a nickname?

Odysseus clearly noticed my reaction, but decided to ignore it for the moment and we're back on waiting for us to be brought back to our camps. Tomorrow would be the crafting competition and after that the closing ceremony. I started focusing on everything that needed to be done and the fact that in 2 days we'd be back on our ship helped me distract myself.

The teleportation soon begun and each house was being moved to their respective camp.

Fuck.

I had forgotten to ask mother to bring Odysseus with me, but when I opened my eye back in the camp, the tent I was staying at, the center one, was a little bigger.

"I asked when you were sleeping."

I instantly relaxed and brought him to the bed.

_____________________

I really need to thank Asmodeus. The bastard is uselessly insightful.

The rings the demon king of lust had gifted me, were a paired artefact that created a spatial separation of the owner were having sex. Useless in any other situation, but that saved us from the inevitable destruction our Archana would bring.

"We should really think of a sacrifice for Asmodeus."

Odysseus seemed to have a way to bring my thoughts to reality, so I just nodded and brought my attention to something else. Today was the closing ceremony.

The crafting games were really boring. Not considering Odysseus and the house of Hephaestus, I wouldn't even call that crafting. Someone even made a crown of flowers…

Either way, Odysseus easily won with a prototype version of the mana gun I had given Merlin when I first met Hali and the seven of us were now waiting for the ceremony to begin.

"You know Dimitris? This is probably the first time someone belonging to the Lightning Bringer wins two categories at the winter tournament."

"Sister Hali, you are wrong."

Andreas went on rumbling about how about 100 years ago there was another daughter of Zeus that had done something similar to me, but disappeared not long after and nobody heard anything from her. He only knew about her because she was allegedly his great grand aunt, but even her name had been erased.

Well that's unsettling.

"Either way, let's just wait for the rewards and celebration. Then we'll finally be free from this bullcrap."

Everyone shared my sentiment. Too much stuff had happened for a seemingly simple winter tournament and everyone wanted to go home.

The 12 divine beasts from each camp were reunited in the middle of the arena and soon enough they started making announcements. A calf with the familiar eagle nested on his head started to make the announcements.

Even if Hera didn't have demigods nor champions, she had a camp nonetheless.

"This had probably been one of the most interesting yet disturbing winter tournaments ever. Even in this joyous moment, I can't help but frown upon the disgusting behaviour someone had exhibited here."

He's most definitely talking about Basil, well he's dead anyway.

"However, we must celebrate what its due to celebrate, so without further ado… Dimitris Damocles!"

I stood up from the tribunes and walked towards the podium. The little guy had advised me against using magic to teleport during the celebration, apparently it was extremely rude.

Good thing the divine bagger knows me well.

It felt like everyone was looking at me. It was a little uncomfortable, but I didn't dislike the sensation.

At least it's not pity. They can look all they want if it's not with pitying eyes.

"Dimitris Damocles, for your outstanding performance, here is your first reward."

A golden droplet of ichor appeared out of thin air. I immediately felt the familiarity of that divine blood. This was my father's blood.

"Please consume the Ichor under our watch. We shall all pray for a safe assimilation."

Safe my ass, I'm sure most of these demigods hope I choke.

I hope we my mouth and the ichor automatically flew inside me. A deep warmth started to spread inside my body, this was nothing like the time I drank an entire vial mother had given me, but I could feel some slight changes nonetheless. This single drop felt like attuning my body with lightning even further.

And it showed.

As soon as the ichor entered my system, my Archana started wreaking havoc all around me. The sky darkened, thunder was rumbling. Lightning was running wild out of my body, the divine beasts and the audience were all protected by what seemed a mana shield until finally the lightning concentrated and shit up to the sky.

A blinding light engulfed the scene, momentarily blinding everyone, I felt ecstatic.

[congratulation, your divine blood is growing stronger.]

While my body started to get colder after the immense heatwave I was subjected before, a foul stench invaded my nostrils.

A black pool of wastes had been removed from my body.

That shit was inside me?

The calf than took a step and the disgusting trash ignited leaving no trace of its existence behind.

"Congratulation Dimitris, a successful assimilation indeed, it seems we won't need the snakes to heal you up."

Of course, this isn't the first time I drank ichor.

"Let's proceed with the second reward."

Three black books appeared on front of me and the skills were revealed one by one by the calf.

"Since the Records are unable to create a skill related to spirit arts, it has been decided to have you choose between these 3 skills, please remember that all these skills are F rank, but of growing type, it's up to you how they develop."

I nodded vigorously praying with my entire being for a skill that completely negates mana.

"1st: hands of the trickster - manifest invisible hands that can hinder movement and interrupt the focus of your opponent. Initial range: 3 meters.

Origin: demonic skill."

Well this is cool as well, but… please…

"2nd: mana transfer - absorb your enemy's mana upon contact.

Initial absorption: half a circle.

Origin: elven skill."

What the fuck? Wasn't it clear I use Archana and not mana? Why give such a useless option?

"3rd: cursed lock - temporarily halts the formation of an enemy spell. The spell is not destroyed, just temporarily blocked.

Initial limit: 1st circle spells.

Origin: human."

That was a situation I wasn't expecting. Nothing was similar to what I had showcased. Sure, the [cursed lock] could be similar, but it was just temporarily and I could probably get a similar skill with Sarah's stone, that left me with really not much of a choice.

"Can I… I don't know, reroll one of the skills?"

"Rewhat now?"

The calf seemed offended and far be it from me to offer my mothers divine beast.

"Nothing nothing! I was just joking to hint at the skill of my choice! I'll pick [hands of the trickster]."

The little guys fell momentarily silent. Nobody believed my act and I didn't blame them. I was seriously asking to change one of the skills.

"The demonic skill it is then."

[Ars Goetia is looking at you with pride.]

These fucking guys.

"We honestly thought you'd pick the elven skill, but after the divine eagle explained us your condition, it makes sense."

"Yeah, well at least you know."

Once again, everyone was speechless. At that moment a donkey took the scene saving me from further embarrassment while I stealthily absorbed the skill.

While the calf was my mother's divine beast and the eagle my father's, the donkey should have represented Hephaestus and considering the crafting price would be given by his forge, it made sense.

"Odysseus!"

My man didn't follow my example, while I was the purest portrait of rudeness and carelessness, he was a prime example of elegance and royalty. I barely held back my laughter. A king and a bastard. We really were an odd pair.

"Fuck! This is kinda stressful."

"I take back everything I was thinking. You're just as fucking rude as me."

______________________

Odysseus ended up asking for a sword. He had finally decided upon a weapon to master and although I might have preferred for him to use the bow, I couldn't exactly go against what he wished for.

"Why would you even want me to pick up a bow? I have magic for long range?"

"Just because."

The fact that I was uncomfortable with the idea of him being on the frontlines of a battlefield could not be said. I would have been a real hypocrite if I did, especially since I was well aware of my tendency to jump at the vanguard of fights.

"Are you worried? Dimitris, I'm sick of waiting for you on the backside. I want to be with you, not wait for you."

"You really are unnecessarily smart."

I didn't deny, but I didn't entertain him anymore and just left the man to his own devices. I also needed to give my farewells to my brothers before leaving.

Achante, Andreas, Seirus and Theoside were all waiting for me with Hali.

"Soon we will be teleported back. I guess this is goodbye?"

It was honestly saddening letting these chicks go without the certainty that we'd meet in the future, but there wasn't much I could do about it.

"Brother Dimitris! You're from Itaca right?"

"Well, yes… Odysseus is the King of Itaca have you forgotten?"

"Yes of course! Andreas is from Olympia and we are all from Athens! We'll first go to him and then sail for Itaca to meet you up!"

Oh? These chicks know geography?

That was a cute thing to think, but…

"You might want to wait, or just go and wait for us there? We are currently sailing for Delos, gotta get Hali back home and I have some business there."

They seemed to be confused, not that we were bringing Hali back to her home, but about my business in Delos and I couldn't blame them. Delos was famous for being Apollo's birthplace, why would I need to go there?

"You guys don't need to worry, just go home and decide for yourself, but it'll take us a long time to get back to Itaca."

There wasn't much left to say, each of us went their own way and soon Odysseus, Hali and I were alone once again, ready to get back to our ship and finally find some kind of civilisation.

"I can't believe I actually miss our men."

Odysseus looked at me with a knowing smile, Hali just shook her head.

"We'll see them soon enough. Don't worry."

But I should have worried.

And I shouldn't have missed those bastards.

When we were finally teleported back to our ship, what awaited us was Merlin and 15 men talking about a men hunt.

Eurylochus was the one to explain everything.

How they had chosen a constellation instead of us.

How they were ungrateful bastards that should have served us for the rest of their lives.

How they had abandoned us.

"Second Commander, Captain… what do we do?"

Odysseus was eerily calm and silent about the whole situation, while I was ready to hunt those bastard down and beat the living shit out of them, I still didn't have any clue about them.

"We reach Delos, finish Dimitris business and assess the situation. We should be thankful to Dimitris' mother. At least we now know who our real family members are."