The Seraphic System

The Seraphic System

Chapter: 119

(The Transcendent Reward)

-{Kai}-

I stared at the notification.

My first reward above the legendary mark.

Transcendent.

And it wasn't just another familiar or tool. This thing could be stored within my soul, serving as a shield against soul-based attacks. I hadn’t encountered a being who was able to do that yet but I imagine there were multiple.

Above that It could transform into armour when needed. It was functionally able to repair itself as long as it touched the earth. A bit of a harder requirement considering I fought in the air…

That solved my armour problem rather neatly.

But it was the Eden connection that truly caught my attention.

I had been trying to recreate various plants from Eden for months now. Trees that healed passively. Flowers that generated ambient holy energy.

If this golem could replicate those conditions anywhere...

The possibilities were staggering.

And by the looks of it, the Golem possessed even more abilities than I'd read about when I had some free time. For how, I stored the rewards in my inventory, forcing myself to focus on the present.

There would be time to examine them properly later, to test their limits and understand their full potential.

Right now, I had other matters to attend to.

Gabriel's fingers were still running through my hair absentmindedly, her earlier anger having settled into something more like resigned worry. I found I didn't mind remaining where I was.

Artemis had become content to merely stare.

As for Galadriel, she similarly had been healed by an angered Gabriel. The massive serpent that had given the Dragon trouble now sat innocently in my lap, her form shrunken down once more.

"Kai!"

The shout made me turn my head, just in time to see Percy sprinting across the ruined battlefield with Annabeth close behind him. His orange Camp Half-Blood shirt was torn and splattered with monster dust, Riptide still clutched in his hand.

The area was still dangerous, bolts of energy crackling around.

Gabriel almost sensed my thoughts, a pulse of light coming out to shield them.

Behind them, the Hunters emerged from whatever cover they had taken during the battle's climax. All of them wore stunned looks, Zoe’s being the most conserved as my view in her eyes seemed to have taken a complete turn.

Artemis turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. Her expression, which had been hard and guarded since her rescue, softened visibly as her Hunters surrounded her.

Zoe reached her first, stopping just short of embracing her before seeming to remember protocol. Then the rest of the hunters ran towards her with relieved looks.

Artemis solved that problem by pulling her lieutenant into a brief but firm hug.

"My lady," Zoe's voice was silent.

I didn’t have time to follow that particular conversation. As almost comically Percy skidded to a stop beside me, his eyes wide as he took in the scene.

It was first Gabriel that he appeared to be stunned by. Then his gaze moved to the ruined wasteland that had been mount Othrys. Then to Michael who stood calmly.

Finally his gaze landed on me, sprawled across an Archangel's lap.

"Dude," he said eloquently.

Annabeth arrived a moment later, slightly more composed but equally bewildered.

"We did it," I said, grinning up at them. "Artemis is free. Atlas is going back to his cage."

Percy blinked. "We did? I mean, yeah. We totally did."

"I think you did the heavy lifting though," Annabeth muttered, her grey eyes sweeping over the devastation around us.

"Hey, beating a Goddess isn't easy," Percy replied flatly.

"For this quest it is," Annabeth shot back with a hint of exasperation. "My second quest somehow managed to be even more dangerous than the first one. Which, by the way, involved almost getting almost killed by the God Of War."

"You had to fight a Goddess?" I questioned.

They both blinked.

"You didn't know? Your weird clone dude came to help," Percy pointed out.

"I don't exactly see what happens through them..."

"Oh, sweet." Percy's face lit up. "In that case we totally took her out by ourselves. Just me and Annabeth being awesome. And those two kids you sent towards us, we were able to get them out safely by the way. Apparently they’re going to a nearby church.”

Kids?

Annabeth rolled her eyes so hard I thought they might get stuck. "Seaweed Brain, he literally just said he doesn't see through them. He'll find out eventually."

"So," She continued, ignoring him and turning back to me with that analytical look she got when piecing together a puzzle. "I have to ask. How did this happen? I assume the explosion at the Labyrinth entrance caused a hitch in the plan?"

I nodded. "We were close. But it appeared our actions in the Labyrinth didn't go unnoticed."

"Which led to a fight with who exactly?"

"Kronos."

"Ah." Annabeth nodded like this made perfect sense. "Michael took care of that?"

"No, he took care of Atlas and the Devil who followed us out."

Annabeth's eyes went wide. "You fought Kronos alone?!"

"Unfortunately," I chuckled, feeling Gabriel's gaze boring into the side of my head.

"Nice going dude." Percy gave me a thumbs up, completely unfazed.

Gabriel's stare turned to him and he laughed nervously, the confidence draining from his face faster than water down a drain.

"Why are you on her lap?" he asked, clearly desperate to change the subject.

"I'm injured."

"You look comfortable," Percy observed with a knowing nod.

"Have you seen her?"

Percy gave me a solemn nod and we shared that invisible exchange between two friends that only we could understand. The kind that transcended words.

Then something clicked behind his eyes.

"Wait." Percy perked up, looking at Gabriel properly for the first time. His jaw dropped. "This is Gabriel. Like, the Gabriel. Archangel Gabriel."

"Yeah..."

"How did you pull that off?"

Gabriel's face became confused, her two emerald eyes turning to the side as if she was trying to determine whether or not she had just been insulted.

Annabeth coughed lightly. "I'm not sure if you realized, Percy, but Kai is quite attractive."

Percy blinked, then seemed to examine me with squinted eyes. Like he was trying to see something he'd missed before.

"Huh," he said finally. "I guess? I don't really see it."

"You wouldn't," Annabeth muttered.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, Seaweed Brain."

"So what's the plan now?" Annabeth asked, wisely moving on before Percy could dig himself deeper.

"Azrael is putting Atlas back in his prison," I said. "Then we're leaving."

As if summoned by her name, a ripple of energy shimmered in the air, announcing Azrael's return.

She materialized beside Michael, her white robes settling around her slender frame with a whisper of fabric, the faint glow of holy power lingering at her feet before fading.

Percy blushed for some reason and looked away.

"It's done," she reported, her voice even and composed, pale eyes scanning the group before resting on my healed form in Gabriel's lap, a faint crease forming between her brows.

I nodded, a wave of relief easing the knot in my chest.

One less immediate crisis to juggle.

Really, Percy has the worst of luck considering this was meant to be his quest.

I shifted, pushing myself up from Gabriel's lap despite the protest of every muscle in my body.

Her hand lingered on my shoulder, ready to catch me if I stumbled, but I managed to find my footing. Standing felt better.

More dignified than lying sprawled across an Archangel in front of everyone, though I couldn’t really say I had been embarrassed about it.

Michael looked up into the distance at the same time that Artemis suddenly turned her head next to Leto.

“A god is approaching.” Michael announced.

"Hermes," Artemis elaborated. "My father must have sent him the moment the barriers fell. He will be inviting you up to Olympus to converse with Zeus about what happened here.”

That tracked.

And it would seem that my earlier display had made him wary… actually this was probably something to do with his pride, he could have easily come here himself.

Michael looked relaxed even as his hand hovering near his sword hilt.

“I guess the fact that two more Arch-Angels are here didn’t help the already hazardous situation.” I commented with a hint of amusement.

Artemis pursed her lips.

“Do you wish to speak with them, F-Kai?” Michael questioned, catching himself in front of Artemis and Leto.

“We shouldn’t.” Gabriel objected softly. “They can come to use if they wish to speak and Lady Artemis has a grasp of the situation.”

“I can’t say I’m in any rush to speak to him.” I shrugged.

Artemis opened her mouth to retort.

Before we could process or plan a response, the air grew heavy, divine power gathering in a manner that meant whatever God was appearing was announcing his arrival, frost crystals forming on nearby rocks as shadows at the battlefield's edge.

From the depths stepped a figure, tall and gaunt, black robes billowing as if stirred by an underworld breeze.

The vaguely familiar form of Hades appeared.

The God of the Underworld regarded us with eyes like bottomless voids, then he smiled.

"Quite the entrance, Kai." Hades said, regarding me with something between amusement and curiosity. "I can't say I expected to hear of you in this manner. Traffic in the Underworld has been terrible lately, and now I find out there's been a Titan-level battle happening right under Olympus's nose without anyone bothering to inform me."

His dark eyes swept the scene, taking in the ruined battlefield before locking on me with unnerving intensity.

But then his gaze drifted to Azrael.

He stopped.

The calm mask of the Lord of the Dead cracked. His eyes widened, flickering with something I had never expected to see from a god of his stature.

Genuine shock.

"Lady Azrael," he said, his voice losing its casual edge entirely. He straightened, and for a moment the bitter, overlooked god became something far more ancient and formal. "I had believed... that is to say, the records in my domain indicated..."

"Lord Hades." Azrael inclined her head.

Hades stared at her for a long moment. "Do you have any idea what your absence has done to the natural order? The Angel of Death vanishes without a trace, and suddenly I'm dealing with soul processing delays, confused psychopomps and reapers from every pantheon stepping on each other's territories, centuries of backlog..." He caught himself, smoothing his robes. "My apologies. It has been a trying few millennia."

Azrael's lips curved into the faintest smile. "I was otherwise occupied with a task that required my full attention."

"Clearly." Hades's tone shifted, genuine respect bleeding through his irritation. "Whatever that task was, it must have been of considerable importance to keep you from your duties for so long."

"It was."

Hades regarded me once more, his dark eyes calculating. "Well. That certainly changes things."

"Is there something you require, Lord Hades?" Michael interjected, his tone polite but firm. His hand had not left his sword, though his posture remained respectful.

"I was curious about the considerable disturbance I felt from this location. The barriers prevented me from observing the battle itself, but when they collapsed..." Hades gestured at the devastation around us. "I caught a glimpse. Imagine my surprise when I realized you were involved."

"Popped in to say hello?" I replied. "That's rather kind of you."

"Indeed. After we parted on such amicable terms, I found myself curious when I sensed your presence here." He paused, letting the words sink in, his dark eyes glittering with calculated interest. "I would very much like to discuss what transpired."

"Rather convenient timing, Uncle." Artemis cut in, clearly displeased at being sidelined. "Just as Hermes was on his way."

"Ah, yes. Hermes." Hades's eyes glinted with something almost like satisfaction. "I'm certain my brother is eager to interrogate everyone involved. But since you and I are already well acquainted, Kai, I thought you might appreciate some hospitality before Zeus's messenger arrives with his endless questions."

His gaze shifted to the Archangels flanking me.

"Unless, of course, your Father objects to it. In which case I imagine you will be returning home." There was genuine respect in his tone now, tempered with caution.

So he still didn't know.

I considered it. My body didn't feel as exhausted as before thanks to Gabriel's healing. And I had a sneaking suspicion that Hades knew something, or wanted something. Why else would he appear personally?

"Sure, why not." I pushed myself to stand a bit straighter. "Hope you don't mind my company."

"Where Kai goes, we go," Gabriel said softly but firmly, moving to stand at my side. Her hand found my arm, gentle but unyielding.

Michael nodded once. "We will accompany him."

Azrael simply stepped forward, her presence making her answer clear.

Hades regarded the three Archangels for a moment, something flickering behind his dark eyes. Calculation, perhaps. Or resignation.

"Very well," he said finally, spreading his hands in a gesture of welcome. "The Underworld has room enough for Heaven's finest. Though I should warn you, my palace isn't as bright as what you're used to. Budget constraints, you understand. The dead keep arriving and renovations are expensive."

Just at that moment a figure dragged itself across the ground, burns littering its body and one of its limbs completely gone. The pale skin was barely visible under the dirt and burns. The golden lines that were visible on his body were the only indication of who he was.

Percy brightened up.

“Greg!” He cheered.

The Shikigami was in a bad state, but looked like he was gradually getting better.

“He will be coming with us too.” I replied, glad to see my Shikigami hadn’t died.

Hades watched the Shikigami with a hint of confusion. “What odd company you keep.”

His gaze purposefully flickered to Galadriel, then divine power curled from his fingers like smoke from dying embers, wrapping around everyone except an annoyed Artemis and a pensive Leto.

I felt the telltale sign of teleportation beginning to take hold.

I caught a glimpse of Leto stepping forward, her golden hair swaying as she moved, mouth opening with widened eyes, hand extending as if to speak or stop us.

But before a sound escaped her, we were gone.

-{Luke Castellan}-

The signal never came.

Luke stood at the edge of the overlook, his scarred face illuminated by the faint glow of torchlight from the camp below.

His hand rested on the hilt of Backbiter, fingers drumming an impatient rhythm against the celestial bronze and mortal steel, the cold night air biting at his exposed skin while he waited for something that should have arrived hours ago.

The abrupt lack of communication was disconcerting.

He checked the teleportation circle again, searching for the flare that Kronos had promised as a way to signal the next phase.

The inspired idea that had come from the outsiders who sought to help them for their own means.

Luke turned his gaze to the assembled forces spread across the valley below, monsters of every kind filling the ranks in a sea of scales and fur and twisted flesh.

Telekhines worked at hastily-set up forge that spat sparks into the night air, their bodies hunched over molten metal. Dracaenae sharpened spears in neat formations, serpentine tails coiling as they hissed to one another in conversation.

On the other end, a group of Laistrygonian giants argued over rations near the supply tents. Empousai drifted between the camps, their mismatched legs leaving strange tracks in the dirt.

All of it totalled up to be the army that Kronos had amassed so far.

It wasn't enough to topple Olympus, not even close, such a force would struggle merely to make it to Olympus’ steps.

But that was what the Titan, and furthermore the alliance, were for. With the Olympians so eager to prove themselves incompetent and lazy, the process had proven itself to be easier than one would expect.

The army was enough for this.

His eyes drifted to the mountain that dominated the horizon, Mount Saint Helens looming in the distance with its peak shrouded in perpetual clouds that flickered with something that wasn't lightning.

Perhaps the general humans around would mistake it so, but they also had no idea what actually slept beneath that rock.

Typhon.

The Father of Monsters, the Storm Giant, the being that had once made Zeus himself flee in terror across the sea, that had required the combined might of every Olympian to defeat.

Even then they had only managed to trap him beneath this mountain, burying him under layers of divine seals that had taken everything they had to forge.

The seal was ancient, crafted in an age when the gods were at the height of their power, when they actually worked together instead of squabbling over petty domains and mortal affairs, layer upon layer of divine energy keeping one of the most dangerous creature in the Olympian Pantheon locked away in fitful slumber.

But seals could be broken, could be weakened, could be undone by those with the knowledge and the will to try.

Of course, that didn’t mean the process wasn’t easy.

Which was why they had been waiting for Lord Kronos. They couldn’t do this without help. It wasn’t that simple. And all this waiting around was making him itchy.

They were so close.

The plan was rather simple.

Why fight the Gods?

How many Titans would die? Such a case would leave them weakened and unable to rightfully reclaim Kronos’ rule. A rule of action, a rule that didn’t involve merely sitting back.

No.

Why do all that when something a lot simpler could be done. It had come as a suggestion from one of the outsiders, a lackadaisical comment Luke had been there to hear.

And it was one that had obviously stuck with Lord Kronos.

Why do all that work when they had so many others who would willingly do it?

The Olympians had compiled enemies over thousands of years and had felt happy to leave them unattended.

His finger twitched, the burn marks from so long ago still present. He laughed.

With just the right ritual, the right amount of power, the right timing...

Typhon would wake. Then they could direct his attention towards the Olympians, killing two birds with one stone when Lord Kronos took what was his.

And when he did, the gods would have no choice but to face him, every Olympian forced to the front lines to battle the monster that had nearly destroyed them once before, leaving their thrones unguarded, their defenses spread thin, their attention wholly consumed by the threat they had hoped would sleep forever.

Luke's jaw tightened, teeth grinding as the hours stretched on without word.

Something had gone wrong.

He could feel it in his bones, that cold certainty that came from years of plans falling apart at the worst possible moment, from watching every hope get crushed under the weight of divine indifference.

The Titan Lord should have sent the signal by now. Artemis should have been bait that drew more gods into the trap. Atlas should have been reporting the victory, his freedom secured, his strength added to their cause.

Instead there was silence.

A dracaena approached, her serpentine lower half coiling beneath her as she bowed, forked tongue flickering nervously.

Luke didn't look at her, his eyes remaining fixed on Mount Saint Helens, on the prison that held their greatest weapon, on the future he had staked everything upon.

He would wait one more hour, then something would have to be done…

He had no clue as to what that was but perhaps the allies can help.

The gods had killed his dreams of a fair world, had abandoned him and countless other demigods to suffer and bleed for their amusement, had watched his mother descend into madness and done nothing, had let children die on quests meant to glorify Olympus.

He wouldn't let this setback stop him.

The gods would burn.

Hours passed, going past the supposed time limit in which he would act.

“Hello, Friend.”

A voice brought him out of his long-winded thoughts.

Luke spun, hand flying to Backbiter's hilt as he turned to face the speaker.

A young man stood a few feet away, his features soft and almost angelic in the dim torchlight.

Blonde hair framed a face that seemed too calm, too composed for someone who had approached the leader of an army unannounced. His eyes were pale, almost translucent, watching Luke with an expression of mild curiosity.

A demigod?

That was his first thought, they were the only true humanoids that resided with him besides monsters but he didn’t recognise this face.

Luke couldn't sense any particular divine heritage radiating from him, but that meant little. Some demigods learned to mask their presence early, especially those who had survived on their own.

Or… was this a God?

The thought made him scowl.

They did so enjoy popping up uninvited.

"Who are you?" Luke demanded, not releasing his grip on his sword. "How did you get past the sentries?"

The young man smiled, the expression warm and disarming and his hands open.

"I mean you no harm, Luke Castellan." He said, becoming slightly wary at the sight of his sword.

It was that slight fear that instantly dispersed the image of a potential God, his grip on his sword lightening.

The use of his full name set Luke's teeth on edge.

He studied the stranger more carefully, searching for any sign of threat or deception.

The boy carried no visible weapons, his posture relaxed and open.

One of the Brigade's contacts, then.

This was how they normally did things as well. They had been sending representatives and resources for months now, ever since the alliance had been formalized.

This must be another one.

"You're here about the operation," Luke said.

The young man tilted his head, that same gentle smile playing at his lips. "I'm here because your plan is currently set to fail.”

Luke's blood ran cold. "What do you mean?"

The stranger's expression shifted, becoming somber. "I bring unfortunate news, I'm afraid."

"Kronos…?” Luke breathed. “Well? Spit it out.”

"Kronos has lost in combat, it would seem his Lordship’s unsealed state wasn’t enough for whatever perpetrator caught up with him." He revealed regretfully.

Luke staggered back a step, his mind refusing to process what he had just heard.

Kronos.

The Titan Lord.

Defeated.

It put a major set back in everything.

How were they meant to get the rest of his body free now? How was he meant to release Typhon?

"How?" The word came out as a snarl, rage and disbelief warring in his chest. "How is that possible?"

The young man shook his head slowly, regret coloring his features. "The specifics remain unclear. What I do know is that the barriers around Mount Othrys have been completely erased. The energy signatures suggest a battle of immense proportions took place."

Luke picked up a slight alien emotion passing through the boy’s eyes at the mention of the energy.

"Then someone should have seen it," Luke said. "Something that big doesn't just happen without notice. Was it the Olympian’s?”

"It was concealed," the stranger replied calmly. "Expertly so. The barriers that originally protected the location also served to hide what occurred within. When they fell, a secondary barrier was erected almost immediately. Whoever orchestrated this didn’t want to be seen."

Luke's hands were shaking. He clenched them into fists, nails digging into his palms.

"What about Ar- the Moon Goddess? Atlas?" He stuttered, making sure not to use her real name now that she was presumably free.

"I cannot say for certain. The Olympians are aware something happened, which means investigating further has become problematic." The young man paused, his pale eyes meeting Luke's with something that looked almost like understanding. "I am sorry. I know how much this must have meant to you. I too was rooting for this success.”

Luke turned away, staring out at Mount Saint Helens without really seeing it. Everything he had worked for. Every sacrifice, every betrayal, every moment of doubt he had pushed aside in service of the greater goal.

For nothing.

"What am I supposed to do now?"

The question escaped before he could stop it.

He calmed himself. “I’ll have to start again is what I’ll do.”

The words were purely to show no weakness.

Without Kronos the monsters would be harder to control. Once they found out that is.

The stranger moved to stand beside him, close enough to speak quietly but not close enough to crowd.

"Of course you can continue," he said simply. "Kronos is not truly gone and while I wouldn’t speak bad about his lordship, wasn’t it all your hard work that brought him there? I even heard of that.”

Luke said nothing, but his jaw tightened, but he felt a thrill at knowing the immensely powerful beings in the Khaos Brigade

His eyes caught the reflection of an unhinged smile on the boy, replaced by a blur of light as his eyes quickly flickered to the boy himself, finding only an awed look.

"His fall does not erase what the Olympians have done. It does not bring back the demigods who died on their quests. It does not heal your loved ones who have no doubt suffered, as many Demigods do." The young man's voice was soft, almost gentle. "The gods still sit upon their thrones. They still play their games with mortal lives and they will never care.”

"And what would you know about it?" Luke asked bitterly.

The stranger was quiet for a moment.

"I know what it is to see a God’s light, as burning as it is blinding." His pale eyes seemed distant, as if seeing something far away. "A hideous display as that light doesn’t care for what it burns on its path.”

Luke turned to look at him, really look at him for the first time. There was pain there, hidden beneath the calm exterior. A familiar bitterness that Luke recognized all too well.

"Typhon still sleeps beneath that mountain," the young man continued, nodding toward Mount Saint Helens. "Your inability to unseal him is the only true setback.”

For the first time since hearing of Kronos's fall, Luke felt something other than despair.

"You're offering to help," Luke said slowly, thinking it over.

"Our interests happen to align." The stranger smiled faintly. "I have a method you could use to free Typhon, along with an interest in seeing that acted out.”

Luke studied him for a long moment.

There was something about him, something that made Luke want to trust him despite every instinct telling him to be cautious.

Perhaps it was due to his status as a Khaos Brigade member.

"Why?" Luke asked.

The young man's smile didn't waver. "Because the enemy of my enemy is my friend. And we have all the same enemies and not enough friends, Luke Castellan."

"I am afraid I cannot stay much longer." The boy frowned, glancing at the horizon as if sensing something Luke could not.

Luke swore his eyes flashed transparent for just a second.

“Allow me to present the gift that I came here to give, the ability to undermine this seal with some effort on your part.”

Luke nodded slowly. He needed allies now more than ever. And this young man, whoever he truly was, had offered exactly what he needed at his lowest moment.

Almost too perfectly.

"May I know your name before you go?" Luke asked seriously.

The stranger turned, that gentle smile returning to his face. There was something almost fond in his expression, like an old friend reunited after years apart.

"Just call me Ezekiel," he said warmly. "All my friends do."

A device was left, the only sign he had been there as he simply ceased to be.

-END-

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