Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works; all other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. I'm just playing with them.
Betad by Priapus
The Celestial Demigod
Chapter 06: Quest… Complete?
– Hecate –
When Lady Athena personally requested her presence, she already knew something incredibly strange was going on. Olympus and Hades had never been on the best of terms as the two ruling brothers were often at odds at the best of times, and she was Lady Persephone's attendant. As such, she rarely interacted with Olympus itself and had little interest in doing so.
Frankly, they did not respect her, and she saw no reason to show loyalty to such a group and their pigheaded King. But, faced with Lady Athena, of all people, requesting her aid, she had no choice but to, at the very least, come and see what all the fuss was about. Having the prideful Athena admit that she required the aid of someone more versed in magic did wonders for Hecate's ego, in truth, but…
As it turns out, the fuss was very much worth her attention beyond just stroking her ego by having Athena admit she needed her. Adon, Aphrodite's latest, was a freak of nature and a source of frustration and confusion for Olympus. She knew Lord Hades liked him purely for that, having sat back and laughed as his brother freaked out, while keeping himself out of that particular mess.
And while the freak of nature was usually pulling out insults to other gods, like a copy of Apollo's own lyre, this time he'd gone one further… and produced an entire library of another world's magic system. Spells and rituals that were alien, even to her, speaking of the Winds of Magic. She was the Goddess of Magic, and even she found some of this alien.
The stuff in the basement, behind the strange ward, was amongst the most complicated and potentially powerful magic she had ever seen before. She could spend a decade in that room, and she doubted she'd be finished in the Ulgu or Shyish section, let alone the other 'winds'.
Leaving the library with a frown on her face, she headed for the mansion which Adon had evidently pulled out of thin air. Adon was in a… strange position, and with his connection to the Norse gods and the intense scrutiny being sent his way by Olympus, she was at least diplomatic enough to know that just trying to take the library for herself would likely cause more trouble than it was worth. Zeus was on a hair trigger, and if he thought she was taking this power for Hades he might start a war with Lord Hades over it.
The books within refused to leave, despite her best efforts at taking or copying them, and as such she was going to have to play nice with Athena's latest headache. But, how was she going to convince him to let her-
Feeling something familiar, she paused before she let herself in and stared at where Adon was sitting, surrounded by three girls dressed in cheerleader outfits, all giggling and flirting with him until one spotted her.
"D-Dark Lady?!" Serephone gasped, moving from Adon's side to kneel at the sight of Hecate. Kelli and Tammi followed suit, shocked at her appearance. The three empousa seemed as shocked as they were afraid, and she noted that all three of them had recently drunk blood, Adon's from the blood around the neck of his top. And yet, he seemed utterly unharmed with no damage. "We- we were just-"
What had they gotten up to that they were afraid she'd be angry? The Empousai served her, but she left them to their devices unless she actually needed them for something.
"Hi!" Adon interrupted, an easy smile on his face. "You're Lady Hecate, right? Auntie Athena mentioned she needed your help with the whole weird magic thing."
"That would be me, yes," Hecate agreed, once again preening at Athena needing her. "And you must be Adon, child of Aphrodite and Loki."
"That's me! Ooh, I had this for you. I was gonna do the whole shrine sacrifice thing but your shrine isn't ready yet and I didn't want to push Senko into working too hard after she made so many nice shrines in one day," Adon explained cheerfully, pulling a flask with something black and red swirling within it and handing it over. "It's an ancient curse made by the blood sacrifice of a thousand virgins, apparently. That's what my power said anyway, I don't know shit about this stuff."
Blinking to herself, she looked between the flask and then to Adon's beaming smile, before she uncorked the flask and lifted it to her nose, breathing deeply. Oh, so it was. It wasn't made with the Winds of Magic but a new, third system of magic. She was almost insulted, but as far as sacrifices go, it was a pretty good one.
"And why would you make a sacrifice to me?" Hecate asked, watching him blink.
"For helping with the book thing? Also, these three said you were basically their boss, so I thought it was only polite since I've hired them," Adon explained cheerfully. Hecate looked toward the three pale monsters and then sighed.
"Explain, please," Hecate said, putting the flask away for later study. Adon happily explained his situation, as she listened patiently. It was rather apparent that he was not a… normal demigod, if his decision on what to do with all the… 'cool shit' his power was giving him was to try and rent it out so he didn't have to risk his pretty face questing.
Looking to the three who had agreed to help him run his store in Camp Halfblood, she paused as an idea struck her.
"You would also be requiring a… librarian, wouldn't you?" Hecate asked, seeing him tilt his head. "We wouldn't want another repeat of Athena's child wandering into magic she couldn't handle, would we?"
Adon was a freak of nature, but one that was frequently producing entire new magic systems. Her three minions were quick to catch on, each informing him that they weren't overly talented in magic and couldn't possibly help manage the library. Tammi even swore she was outright illiterate.
"Hmm, you have a point. I take it you have someone in mind?" Adon asked, tilting his head in a way that reminded her of a golden retriever. Or maybe Hecuba in the extremely rare occurrence when she was feeling happy. "It comes with room and board!"
Hecate smiled, something that seemed to shock her minions, much to her annoyance. She was not that gloomy, not when faced with all this powerful and fascinating magic!
As she returned to her home, she packed her needed belongings with a sly smile, gathering Gale and Hecuba to relocate them to their temporary new home. Lord Hades seemed surprised by her announcement that she was relocating for a while, before he narrowed his eyes and gave her an approving look. She was well aware that he expected her to keep an eye on Adon for him, something she would do as she was not eager for Olympus to get ahead. Persephone just seemed to find the idea of her becoming a librarian highly amusing.
But she was the Goddess of Magic, and her pride and curiosity refused to let her leave such an… intriguing golden goose alone, even though she usually preferred her solitude. If her presence made Olympus uncomfortable, so be it. Athena had been the one to invite her in to begin with; they could take it up with her.
…her new bedroom was far too bright and cheery for her tastes. Some redecorating first.
– Adon –
"What do you mean you hired Hecate?!" Athena asks, clearly resisting the urge to facepalm.
"That… I hired Hecate? I needed employees for my new business, and Hecate both approved of me borrowing her Empousai and offered her services as a librarian! She's actually kinda sweet for someone so emo, huh?" I explain. The moment the word 'librarian' leaves my mouth, she pauses before sighing deeply, mumbling something about only having herself to blame. Which means… I'm not to blame! Victory for Adon!
100cp granted, 100cp total.
"New business?" Athena asks tiredly. I smile, explaining my genius idea of how to put all my toys to use without risking myself on some stupid quest. Despite my expectations (more sighing and tired looks), Athena actually looks… approving?! I don't like it, it's unnerving. "So, you'd remain in the camp. Out of trouble?"
"Yeah. Look at my soft, sexy features. I'd be eaten alive on a quest. Sure, I like exploring and my trips to Central Park are fun, but I don't want to quest. It sounds like work," I agree.
"...you truly are Aphrodite's child," Athena sighs, rubbing her chin. "Your idea is not a… terrible one. Your power is clearly able to produce a great many useful tools that could aid your fellow demigods on their quests. Still, you are aware that monsters eat demigods, right? You see the issue with placing three Empousai within Camp Halfblood?"
"It's fine, they're good girls, and Hecate told them they weren't allowed to charm or eat the campers. Besides, I let them drink my blood as part of their payment, and they said it was sweeter than any regular demigods, so they're fine using me as a bloodbag instead of bothering the other campers," I explain happily, seeing her deadpan stare again. "I have medicine, so I healed up just fine once they'd had their fill. They're really sweet girls when you get to know them! They set the Minotaur on fire when it tried to interrupt my show."
"I… I asked you to stay out of trouble, and you actively let a monster feed on you?" Athena mumbles, rubbing her forehead tiredly. "Still, with your baffling luck, it seems to have not ended too poorly. Is there anything else I should know about?"
I pause for a moment, brows furrowing in thought. She knows about Demeter and my new store.
"Oh yeah, some weird old dude moved into my forest and won't leave but he gave me this when I told him he had to leave," I say, pulling out the weird pipes.
"...Adon, please show me to 'the old dude'," Athena sighs, following behind as I lead her into the forest. I don't know where he came from, but Pukei found him napping in the deepest part of my new forest and he just won't leave.
But it's not like he's hurting anyone, so I don't really care that much?
Guiding her deeper, I watch as the old man wakes up and rubs his eyes as he turns to face us.
"Hello again, my young friend," Pan greets, rising from the rock he was napping on. "And greetings once more, Lady Athena."
"See, weird old man," I point out, looking at his goat legs and horns. Despite my words, the squatter just chuckles, and he does have a really nice laugh. He has good jokes, too, and Pukei likes him.
"Pan," Athena greets dryly. I think she's too tired of my bullshit to be surprised at this point, but this isn't on me! I didn't invite this guy in, but Pukei likes him, and I don't want to make my pet sad by kicking out his new friend. "What exactly are you doing here?"
"Ha! I suppose you wouldn't be able to tell, oh Goddess of Civilisation," Pan chuckles in amusement. He looks younger than when I first found him lurking in my forest. "This wonder is a piece of true wilderness, something that the march of humanity has made in incredibly short supply. I sensed it, even from my final sanctuary, and was drawn in."
"You faked your death," Athena says, sounding entirely unamused.
"Yup," Pan agrees without a care.
"I- if this were happening at any other time, I would be most unamused. As it happens, I'm too busy to care. Do what you want, God of the Wilds," Athena finally says, grumbling something under her breath. "Adon! If any other 'weird people' show up, tell me. Do not just let random gods move into your domain."
"...but it's my domain and he's not hurting anyone," I reply. "You're a God?"
"Yup," Pan agrees again.
"Huh, neat. That's another God I'm on good terms with. See, I'm pretty good at this. Lady Demeter doesn't want to kill me. Hephaestus stopped being so petty, Hecate is my librarian and now Pan lives in my backyard," I announce proudly. "Clearly, I've inherited my mom's popularity."
"Aphrodite always was a charmer," Pan agrees fondly, patting my shoulder with his massive hand.
"I'm telling Hermes and Lord Zeus you're alive," Athena says to Pan, before she sighs. "Beyond that, I don't care. I truly don't. You aren't my problem. You're not even in my top ten problems this week."
Quest Complete(?): Find Pan, 200cp granted. 400cp total.
Feat Achieved: Become a hero to the Satyrs, 200cp granted. 600cp total.
Nice.
"Old man, you're welcome to crash in my forest as long as you want," I say, a beaming smile on my face. I love getting paid for doing nothing.
"An offer most gratefully accepted. This place has me feeling like myself again, this realm of uncorrupted nature," Pan says. "Would you like some berries? I grew them myself."
As Athena leaves, in what I would never refer to as a huff because the almighty Lady Athena is not so immature, I smile. They are damn good berries.
After spending some time with my new roommate, where he shows me how to play the weird reed pipes, I wander back to my mansion and pause. Oh right.
Staring up at Clarisse, still asleep in a net, I stroke my chin.
I forgot she was up there.
And I sold her shield to Hephaestus.
Ehhhh. She isn't going anywhere in a hurry.
"Ares kids always were the sort to rush in without thinking," a voice says, reminding me that I really should shut the door so people can't just come in and out as they please as I turn to face the man leaning against the wall. Another blond (best hair colour), in a white toga and cool winged sandals. Wait, I know this one!
"I haven't mortally offended you recently, have I, Lord Hermes?" I ask, scratching my chin as I consider everything. He just snorts, chuckling to himself.
"Nothing like that, and I'm not going to throw a tantrum if your power goes and pulls something of mine out of thin air," Hermes agrees, his words spoken so fast I almost have trouble following them. "But you've done my son a solid. Between you and me, I knew Pan was hiding in his cave. Who do you think brought him the essentials? But the brat had already decided it was time to die before your little forest reminded him of the world before humanity went and took it over. Breathed some life into him, you know?"
"Not particularly, but go on," I reply.
"Heh, the point is that I owe you one. Lady 'Dite has been watching over you, too busy dealing with my old man and Asgard to come see you herself, but she says you're doing great," Hermes continues, my smile growing. "As the God of Merchants, I'll… nudge things your way with your new business, and we'll call it even. Call it rent for my lazy layabout son. Now, if you could get your power to wake up Luke, then I'd really owe you."
"What's up with Luke, anyway? Athena took him away and my power mentioned him being comatose or something like that," I ask, tilting my head. Luke was nice, even if he was apparently a spy for Kronos or something. I've got no bad blood with Kronos, didn't do nothing to me.
"Kronos took his 'failure' personally, the grumpy old fucker. Since Father learnt Kronos is awake, his cage has been secured even further to keep him locked away and Kronos lashed out the only way he could, through the bond he had with Luke. Shattered his mind and drove him to insanity to stop Athena from squeezing every drop of information out of Luke," Hermes explains with a shrug. He doesn't look bothered, but something tells me he's not as unaffected as he acts.
Well, I don't have any way to cure Madness-
Wait, yes I do.
"Oh, I can probably fix that," I say, making him blink. I blink back, staring at him questioningly.
"Wait, seriously?" Hermes asks.
"Yeah? Probably?" I agree, which is as far as I get before I'm suddenly standing in the infirmary, my hair a complete mess. Did he just drag me from the mansion to the infirmary in an instant? "Whoa, that was trippy as fuck."
"At least you didn't puke, most do the first time," Hermes shrugs. "So, think you can fix him up?"
Pausing, I look at Luke as he drools on his pillow. His eyes flicker around, confusion clear in them.
[Madness Immunity] - 100cp
While pretending to be a Marauder might be fun, you wouldn't want to actually risk allowing your magick to corrupt you. You never need to fear mental illness, neither the mundane kind nor the ones inflicted by supernatural powers such as the state of Quiet.
Athena herself said she couldn't drive me to madness, and Athena is really talented at things like that so theoretically-
[Madness Immunity] transferred to Luke Castellan.
Ha, I knew it! I'm so smart.
Luke sits up with a jolt, gasping and clutching at his head.
"So… what have we learnt about letting ancient, angry titans live in our heads?" I ask scoldingly, tutting.
"What- what did you do?" Luke asks, blinking away the confusion as he looks between me and Hermes. Oddly enough, he doesn't seem thrilled to see his father with a considerably conflicted expression crossing his face.
"I had a power that made me immune to madness, so I just gave it to you. Turns out that's a thing I can do. Cool, right?" I ask happily.
Feat Achieved: Cure Luke's Madness, 100cp granted. 700cp total.
Feat Achieved: Gain Hermes' Favour, 200cp granted. 900cp total.
"Cool," Luke agrees with a shaky laugh, unable to meet his father's stare. "I- thanks, Adon."
"No problem. Sooo… can I go? There's some weird tension in the air and I don't wanna get involved in whatever this father-son drama is," I admit shamelessly.
"Yeah, you can go. You have my thanks, Adon," Hermes says, placing a hand on my shoulder. "I'll be in touch."
"Cool. Later, Luke?" I say, giving him a questioning look.
"Yeah, later," Luke agrees, half-heartedly.
Well. I think today went pretty well indeed. Playing tag with Pukei for a while, I pause to head into the library and tell Annabeth that I woke Luke up, which actually pulls her out of the mountain of books she had piled up as she hugs me tightly, then dashes out. Wait, did she even leave to sleep last night?
Eh, her sleep schedule is her problem.
Feat Achieved: Return the Master Bolt to Zeus. 200cp granted. 1100cp total.
Feat Achieved: Return the Helm of Darkness to Hades. 200cp granted. 1300cp total.
…what?
– Lady Athena –
Watching the beatdown with entirely apathetic eyes, Athena sighed to herself as Hades and Zeus took turns beating Ares for his latest scheme. With Luke awake, Hermes had convinced his son to share what he knew to avoid punishment, and as a true son of the God of Thieves, Luke had sold Ares out to save his own skin.
Ares denied it, of course, but he couldn't exactly explain why he possessed an enchanted backpack that had both items within it. Hermes, being the God of Thieves, stole the backpack back before Ares even realised that the game was up.
So, for once, all of Olympus was in agreement about something, and that something was the beating of Ares. The God of War usually enjoyed a good fight. This was not a good fight, but instead it was a one-sided beatdown of apocalyptic proportions.
When Ares finally confessed that he had intended to use Poseidon's demigod child, Percy, as the means to start the war, it had gone from two of the big three beating him to all three simply beating the man like a disobedient stepchild. Athena held exactly zero pity for the idiot who had tried to start a war that would have undoubtedly caused her so much trouble, and as such just watched with cold eyes as Ares was hit into the air by Hades, only for a bolt from Zeus to send him back down into Poseidon's waiting trident.
It was nice to see the brothers get along for a change. She was just happy that the Symbols being returned meant that the looming threat of war between Olympus and Hades had faded and now she just had to worry about the ongoing grudge between Aphrodite and Zeus, and Odin's interference.
After several hours, the Trio finally got bored of beating Ares, with Zeus making it clear that further punishment was heading his way for pulling this bullshit. That Ares had known Kronos was awake and acting, and decided to use it as a chance to start a war rather than warn anyone, just proved how shortsighted he could be.
Retaking his throne, Zeus held his Master Bolt so tightly you'd think he was worried that Kronos was going to reach out and yank it from his hand.
"So, we're all in agreement that we only discovered this deception because of my son, yes?" Aphrodite asked with a beaming smile on her face. Zeus's glare was entirely unamused, his grip tightening. "His power warned us about Kronos, and healed young Luke's mind so we could learn just what became of the Symbols. Are you so ungrateful a King that you'd continue trying to punish him for the crime of existing when he's given you such a boon?"
"He remains a threat. The Fates-" Zeus started.
"Said that he had the potential for limitless power, and would begin to embrace his power upon being claimed. He has been claimed and so far he's just wandered around Camp Halfblood. They didn't say he'd be a threat, only that he would have power," Hermes reasoned. "If anything, you're giving him a reason to be a threat because if his power keeps growing, he's not going to forget your attempts to end his life. If you keep trying to see him dead, he's bound to act against Olympus out of sheer self-preservation."
Zeus gritted his teeth at that, entirely unamused at being cornered.
"Self-preservation is what has my brother acting like this," Hades laughed darkly. "You're scared he could kill a God as permanently as he killed the Minotaur."
"Is it not a genuine concern? Asterius is dead and gone, forever. Turned into a weapon. His powers defy logic; they're unpredictable," Zeus countered, looking as pleased at the idea of having to admit he was scared of a demigod as you would expect. "This power defies your own domain, Hades, preventing souls from returning to Tartarus by turning them into tools for his use."
Hades frowned slightly at that, but he wasn't the type to let Zeus smooth-talk him.
"The more you push for him to be slain or sealed, the more likely it is that this power will turn against Olympus. Asgard have made no secret of their interest in him, and Odin would merely need to be more welcoming than you, which is no great feat, to have Adon preferring his Norse family over us," Hermes pointed out. "If he has such potential, which we can't deny after the nonsense he's pulled off this far, why push him into being an enemy? Fighting fate doesn't tend to go well, even for us."
"So, let me approach my son, Lord Zeus. Let me ensure he doesn't see Olympus as his enemies, thanks to your actions. He can already teleport freely. Do you think he couldn't escape to Asgard if he truly wanted to?" Aphrodite cut in bluntly. "Our concern should be wherever Eris and Loki are, not what a teenage boy is doing. Sure, he's got into a little trouble, but nothing worse than what other demigods have done."
Zeus didn't respond, but he was not a fool. He could see how the tides were turning with Hermes and the currently silent Demeter siding with Aphrodite. But, his pride as the King of the Gods wouldn't allow him to be pushed into a corner, forced to agree to their demands. As such-
"Enough. We can return to Adon at a later date," Zeus commanded, as Aphrodite leaned back with a knowing, amused smile on her lips. "As you say, Eris and Loki are the main concern at this moment, along with Kronos' awakening and Ares' treason."
And when Adon came up next, Zeus would present a more… tolerating plan for Adon, claiming it was his idea to begin with, and that he had simply changed his mind all by himself. Luke was all but forgotten, brushed under the rug despite his crimes. He'd be under watch for the rest of his life, and a single toe out of line would see him killed no matter how much Hermes tried to save him, but if he remained out of trouble, he'd be fine.
– Adon –
Oh, Luke died.
Watching him reappear in front of the entrance to the Living Tower, Luke shudders and scowls for a moment before he lets out a tired laugh.
"You weren't kidding about the difficulty," Luke admits, slapping me on the shoulder. "I got to the fourth floor."
"There's ten," I point out.
"Yeah, I know. You don't have to rub it in that I didn't even get halfway," Luke sighs. "Your power is weird."
"Yup. Wanna poke it more and see what comes out? Athena basically told me I could do what I wanted," I claim.
Well, she said the words 'Do what you want' while I was right next to her and it could have been directed at me.
"I thought you'd be angry. You realise I was spying on you, right?" Luke points out, but I just shrug.
"Everyone is spying on me. It's the price of being so sexy. The world can't take its eyes off you. It's why Annabeth follows me around-"
"No, it isn't!" Annabeth argues, looking up from her book. "Mother told me to keep an eye on you."
"Yeah, two eyes. On my ass, at all times," I agree, enjoying her sound of frustration as Luke snorts. "But like I said, it's all good. It's not like you actually did anything against me. Plus, you're not much of a spy if you expose your spymaster on like day two then fall into a coma."
"I'd take offence at that, but you're not wrong," Luke admits with a tired laugh. Annabeth gives him another half-glare, but she's been doing that a lot. It turns out that Mister D, kind, loving camp leader that he is, made sure everyone knew that Luke was, and I quote, a filthy traitor spy. He then threw an empty can at Luke's head. "Sure, why not. Do the thing, magic man."
[Divinity Statue] - 500cp, 800cp remaining
This is a statue of some old, nameless deity of time. Through some weird, convoluted method, these statues allow you to purchase magic. Yeah, just straight up. You can exchange cash, gold, bottle caps, and pretty much any sort of currency to increase your magic powers. This includes your innate abilities, your fancy colourful casty stuff, and equipment such as Devil Arms. Keep in mind that these increases in power are proportional to how much currency you're pumping in. So if you're just burning up loose change, it'll take you forever to catch up to the dude who spends magically forged god dollars from Mount Olympus.
"…hey, Luke. That statue doesn't look like Kronos, right?" I ask, as we both stare at the large marble statue holding up an hourglass.
"Nah, Kronos doesn't have breasts," Luke agrees. "What is it?"
"You have the koins you earned from the floors you didn't fail on, right?" I ask, watching him produce a pouch of golden koins.
"Again, you could have said 'the floors you succeeded on' and yeah. Also, why 'koins'?" Luke asks, getting a shrug.
"Fuck if I know, but that's what my power calls them. Anyway, spend them at the statue," I say, watching him shrug and approach the statue. The koins vanish from his hands.
"Adon, why the fuck can I buy power-ups?" Luke asks, staring at the statue in disbelief. "I can feel the increase to my speed. Not much, but it's there."
"Dunno. Cool, though, right? Pairs well with my living towers. Fight in the towers, get koins, spend them at the statue, then fight to get more koins," I say, beaming. "My business is gonna make me so much, I'll just take a cut of the koins earned."
"Heh, you're not wrong," Luke snorts.
[Great Mutator] - 200cp, 600cp remaining
Tzeentch embodies Chaos in its ever changing nature, mutating and changing the shapes of beings to his every whim. Something that you yourself are capable of. You are able to shapeshift and mutate your own body and that of others with great skill, changing from one impossible form to another, or changing parts of your body to tools and weapons for you to use. You can likewise do this to others in your proximity, though beings not too far below you in power can resist this effect should they wish to do so.
Now, I too can turn into a horse like my father! Wait, no. Do not turn into a horse. My heart and soul tells me this is a bad idea.
[First Nome] - 600cp, 0cp remaining
The First Nome in Egypt is the oldest and most impressive in the entire House of Life. It has the most extensive library, the largest collection of artefacts, the most members, and the most overall resources. It also hosts the Hall of Ages and the (currently empty) throne of the pharaoh. Now you can bring it with you, importing it into each new setting. As a bonus, the Nome's membership will include magicians from past and future worlds you've visited, its library will include books of other magic systems, and its vaults will include artefacts from the same. The Hall of Ages will detail the history of whatever world it is currently in, with side corridors providing less detailed accounts of former worlds.
"Motherfucker! Stop giving me libraries! I'm not going to read, no matter how many you give me," I curse, feeling the First Nome get added onto my existing giant ass library. As I am cursing my power for giving me boring things, I ignore Annabeth 'subtly' making her way toward it. Luke snorts, staring at the growing building before he pauses.
"Friend of yours?" Luke asks, nodding his head to where a hot, muscular blonde is currently storming toward me with a face so scowly you'd think I shot her dog or something. I'm going to take a wild guess that she's from the other side of my family, given her norse-looking armour and runed hammer.
"Hi!" I greet.
"Listen closely, Child of Loki," she spits, saying the name like a curse. "I am Gunilla Thorsdóttir, Valkyrie of Valhalla. I have been tasked by Lord Odin himself to watch you for any of the duplicity so natural in your blood. Don't think me foolish enough to fall for your charms or tricks."
"If you're so smart, why are you shouting at an illusion, Gorilla of Valhalla?" I ask, watching her pause before she swipes a hand at me, passing through my form entirely. With a growl, she snaps her attention toward Luke, who holds up his hands defensively.
"Where did he go?" Gunilla growls. Man, something really pissed in her cereal, huh?
"He ran that way when you were approaching, into the tower," Luke says quickly, pointing at the most difficult of the Living Towers. She gives him a long, angry stare before she storms off that way. Get it, storms because she's Thor's daughter.
Watching as she enters, I reappear about two feet from where I was when she started charging toward me like I owed her money. Snorting, I highfive Luke as we make ourselves scarce for when she gets back out.
— Bonus Scene — Gunilla Thorsdóttir
"Pathetic!" her opponent laughed, swinging his massive hammer and sending her flying across the arena. To her shame, she coughed up a mouthful of blood and fell to her knees, her ribs crushed from the blow as the helmed, shirtless warrior approached her.
With a single swing, he brought the hammer down on her head and she felt the moment her neck just… gave in, her skull pushed into her chest as she cursed the child of Loki, praying that her father would avenge her death. She- she was a Valkyrie, she shouldn't die so easily! She didn't know how she was still alive, let alone conscious, but her mind spiraled as she considered how badly she'd failed her duties and-
"Shao Khan Wins, Fatality!"
…what?
Reappearing outside the tower, her head now perfectly uncrushed, she blinked as a small chest of golden coins appeared in front of her, looking around and seeing no sign of Adon or his duplicitous ally.
…she really fucking hated dealing with children of Loki.