4

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Kallias felt the fire in his mouth, an intense burning sensation spreading like wildfire across his body. His vision flickered, the edges of his sight dimming before everything went black. He could hear his own heartbeat, thumping erratically in his chest as if trying to break free from his ribcage. The pain, searing and uncontrollable, overwhelmed him completely, and he collapsed beside the crackling fire, unconscious.

But it wasn't long before a shaking hand roused him from the depths of darkness.

"Wake up!"

The voice was sharp, insistent, and familiar. Kallias stirred, the fog in his mind lifting just enough to recognize it. Annabeth.

"Hey, wake up! Come on!" Her voice was laced with urgency as she gripped his shoulders, shaking him firmly.

His eyelids fluttered open, and the world came into unsettling focus. Everything was sharper—clearer. He blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of what he was seeing. The faintest details of their surroundings leaped out at him: the glowing embers of the fire, the subtle sway of leaves in the distance, and... Annabeth. She stood over him, her expression shifting between concern and caution.

For a fleeting moment, Kallias swore he could see her heat signature—shades of orange and yellow radiating faintly from her form.

"What the..." he muttered, blinking again, and his vision returned to normal. But everything still seemed heightened, as if a filter had been removed from the world. His gaze shifted to Annabeth, who took a cautious step back, her stormy gray eyes wide with uncertainty.

Kallias reached up, rubbing his face as a strange sensation pricked at his gums. His fingers brushed over sharp, elongated points. His heart sank. Fangs.

"Where the hell did these come from?" he whispered to himself, running his tongue along the unnaturally sharp teeth.

Annabeth hesitated before speaking, her voice softer now but still laced with concern. "You're... different," she said, taking another step back. "What happened to you?"

Kallias didn't respond. Instead, he focused inward, calling out to the only thing that might have answers. System, what the hell is going on?

The cold, detached voice of the system echoed in his mind.

"Reward: Bloodline Improvement. A portion of your sealed bloodline has been unlocked."

Bloodline. Improvement. The words hung heavy in his mind. He could feel it—the change coursing through his body. It was as if something ancient and monstrous had awakened inside him. He glanced down at his hands, his muscles tighter, stronger. His hair had grown impossibly long, cascading down his back in bright, golden waves that reached his knees. He waved his hand, condensing moisture from the air to form a reflective surface.

The face staring back at him was both his and not his. His sea-green eyes now had slit pupils, sharp and predatory. His fangs gleamed when he opened his mouth to examine them, and his hair—wild and radiant—seemed alive with an otherworldly sheen.

"Holy shit..." he whispered. "I'm... part monster."

"What the fuck... I'm part monster," he whispered, the realization hitting him like a wave. He tore his gaze from the mirror and called out to the system in his mind. "System, what the hell happened to me?"

The system's detached voice answered coldly.

"The reward you received was a bloodline improvement. The other portion of your bloodline—your Gorgon heritage—was partially unlocked during the enhancement process."

He frowned, summoning his status to make sense of the changes.

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Status Screen

Name: Kallias

Level: 23

Race: Demigod/Gorgon (Gorgon bloodline partially unlocked)

Age: 8

Stats:

Strength: 25/100 

Speed: 36/100 

Dexterity: 49/100 

Mana: 90/100

Abilities:

Water Manipulation: Mastered 

Water Healing: Mastered 

Monster Eater: Enhanced – You gain knowledge of a monster's weaknesses immediately. Consuming them increases your strength and endurance. 

Swordsmanship Talent: Advanced – Your combat skills with swords rival seasoned warriors. 

Parseltongue: Unlocked – You can communicate with serpents and serpentine magical creatures. 

Hydrated Mind: Enhanced clarity and cognitive function near water. 

Quickstrike Reflexes: Sharpened instincts for battle, allowing swift reactions to enemy attacks.

New Abilities:

Earth Manipulation: Control and shape earth with ease. 

Venomous Fangs: Potent venom that paralyzes or weakens magical shields and regeneration. 

Petrifying Gaze (Partial Unlock): Slows or paralyzes enemies. 

Tremor Generation: Create localized tremors to unbalance foes. 

Night Vision: See clearly in darkness. 

Enhanced Senses: Sharpened hearing, smell, and ground vibration detection.Thermal Vision: Detect heat signatures. 

Snake Hair Manifestation: Strands of hair briefly transform into snakes that can attack or deliver venom. 

Partial Transformation: Switch between human and partial Gorgon form. In Gorgon's form, strength and abilities are enhanced.

Titles:

Gorgon Prince: As the heir to your monstrous lineage, you command respect and fear among creatures tied to your bloodline. 

Ocean's Heir: Loved by the oceans, you are the chosen of the seas. Water flows to protect and obey you. 

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Kallias stared at the screen, his jaw tightening. The changes weren't just physical—his very essence was shifting. It was overwhelming, and he clenched his fists, pushing back the tide of emotions threatening to drown him.

"How do I turn back to normal?" he asked the system.

"Think about your original appearance," it replied simply.

Taking a deep breath, Kallias closed his eyes and concentrated. Slowly, he felt his fangs retract, his pupils rounding back to normal. When he opened his eyes again, he looked... mostly the same, except for the hair, which still flowed down his back. He ran a hand through it, noting its softness. For some reason, he couldn't bring himself to cut it.

Aquarius, his serpent companion, slithered up and rubbed against his arm, snapping him out of his thoughts. He smiled faintly, stroking the snake's head before turning to Annabeth, who was watching him with wide, nervous eyes.

"We have to go," Kallias said firmly, breaking the silence. He stood and began packing their supplies. "I'm taking you somewhere safe—somewhere meant for people like you."

Annabeth hesitated but eventually nodded. As Kallias slung the bag over his shoulder, a notification from the system popped into his mind.

"Mission Acquired: Take Annabeth Chase to Camp Half-Blood. Reward guaranteed. Since this mission involves a main character, the reward will be High-Class Legendary Level."

Kallias smirked at the notification. Legendary reward, huh? He tightened his grip on his pack, ready for the journey ahead.

"We're going to New York," he told Annabeth as they started walking. "What state are we in now?"

"West Virginia," Annabeth answered cautiously.

He sighed. "How far is New York from here?"

"About 400 miles," she replied without hesitation.

As they walked, Annabeth's gaze kept drifting toward him. Finally, she spoke up. "Your hair... it's beautiful," she said quietly.

Kallias chuckled softly, surprised by the compliment. "Thanks," he said, grabbing a strip of the pelt to tie his hair into a neat ponytail.

"What's your name, by the way?" he asked, even though he already knew it.

"Annabeth," she replied. Her voice softened as she added, "How about you?"

"Kallias," he said simply.

They walked in silence for a while before Kallias broke it. "Why was that monster chasing you?" 

Her expression darkened, and she hesitated before answering. "I... I ran away. It wasn't supposed to find me."

As they walked, he could feel her watching him, her curiosity evident. "So... what are you?" she asked tentatively.

Kallias glanced at her, smirking faintly. "Still figuring that out."

Annabeth frowned but didn't press further. The journey to New York would be long, and both of them knew it.

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A few days passed, and the journey had become one of survival, adaptation, and relentless battles. The monsters never stopped coming. Some were drawn to the faint scent of Annabeth and Kallias's demigod blood. 

Each time they were attacked, Kallias took the lead, stepping into the fray with a controlled ferocity that made Annabeth shiver. He had quickly learned to adapt his fighting style, experimenting with his newly awakened abilities. The first time he transformed into his Gorgon state during a fight, Annabeth gasped in terror. She hadn't yet grown accustomed to his monstrous features—the slit pupils, elongated fangs, and hair that writhed like serpents in the heat of battle.

One such experiment came when a goblin attacked them from the underbrush. Kallias moved fast, dodging the creature's crude axe before sinking his venomous fangs into its arm. He stepped back, observing with cold calculation as the goblin staggered, its movements sluggish. Within minutes, the venom took full effect, and the goblin collapsed, lifeless. Kallias crouched beside the body, muttering to himself, "It works... but it needs to be stronger."

From that point on, Kallias tested his venom on every monster he encountered, using weaker creatures as test subjects to enhance its potency. Each fight was another opportunity to grow, another step toward becoming stronger. But he wasn't alone in this endeavor.

Aquarius, his loyal companion, always delivered the finishing blows. Kallias insisted on it, knowing that the little serpent needed to grow as much as he did. He watched as Aquarius's strikes grew more precise and deadly over time, his venom becoming stronger with each kill.

Kallias also tested his other new abilities. His Earth Manipulation was still weak; he could only cause minor tremors or uneven terrain to disrupt a monster's balance. Still, it was useful enough to slow enemies down, giving him and Aquarius the advantage. His Petrifying Gaze, though far from its full potential, proved effective against weaker creatures. Goblins, wolves, and lesser monsters froze for several seconds under his gaze, long enough for him to strike. Against stronger enemies, however, the effect barely slowed them, leaving Kallias frustrated but determined to improve.

Annabeth stayed out of the fights, hanging back and watching with a mixture of fear and fascination. Kallias's combat style was efficient and brutal. What unsettled her most was when the battles ended, and he consumed parts of the monsters he killed. She had never seen anything like it, and though she wanted to ask why, she decided to hold her tongue.

Kallias, for his part, noticed her unease and adjusted his behavior. He avoided using water-based abilities in her presence, knowing she would eventually piece together the truth of his heritage. If she realized he was a son of Poseidon, it would raise too many questions once they reached Camp Half-Blood. For now, he relied solely on his monstrous abilities.

One evening, as they camped near a small stream, Kallias heard the familiar chime of the system in his mind.

"New items received from the System For defeating monsters."

Kallias opened and looked at the items in his hand, curious about what the system had provided.

Monster Compass: A small, silver compass with a glowing needle pointed toward the nearest hostile creature. It would allow him to easily track monsters, ensuring they were never caught off guard again. 

Rejuvenation Band: A simple black leather bracelet. When worn, it gradually restored stamina and healed minor wounds over time. The system noted that it was especially effective in battle, allowing him to recover quickly during prolonged fights. 

Shadow Cloak: A dark, hooded cloak that could render the wearer invisible in low light. Perfect for ambushes or evading enemies at night. 

Serpent Fang Dagger: A sleek, curved dagger infused with venom similar to his own. Any wound caused by the blade would deliver a paralyzing toxin to the target.

Kallias smirked as he equipped the Rejuvenation Band and stowed the rest of the items in his inventory. These tools would undoubtedly prove useful in the days to come. Once he was done, he placed the items in the satchel.

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