What if it was true? What if… he really was a demigod? It would explain his powers. It would explain why the guy who trained all the ancient heroes was here, at this school, teaching him. Chiron had joined the faculty just a few days after Percy had arrived. And Grover was a Satyr protector! It all made sense! But if his dad was a god… which one was he?
Then, as he floated there in the water, it all crashed together in his mind, hitting him with the force of an ocean wave. The water. The incredible power he felt within it. His ability to breathe in it.
His father… his father had to be Poseidon.
'Ding!'
[By using logic and fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together, you have gained +1 WIS!]
'Ding!'
[Quest Completed!]
[The Ultimate Mystery: Find out who your father is!]
[Rewards:]
[All latent racial abilities have been unlocked.]
[+1000 EXP]
'Ding!'
[You have Leveled Up!]
[You have Leveled Up!]
Percy's mind reeled. He quickly pulled up his status screen, and his jaw dropped at what he saw.
[Percy Jackson]
[The Gamer]
[Title: Son of Poseidon (+20 STR, +20 VIT, +20 DEX while in water)]
[Level: 4 (EXP: 0/1200)]
[HP: 100/100 (1200/1200 while in water)]
[MP: 50/50 (1100/1100 while in water)]
[Race: Demigod]
[Primary Stats:]
[STR - 2 (+20 buff) = 22]
[VIT - 1 (+2 racial, +20 buff) = 23]
[DEX - 2 (+2 racial, +20 buff) = 24]
[INT - 3]
[WIS - 4]
[LUC - 3]
[Points: 10]
[Money: $50 / 0 Drachma]
[Description: Perseus 'Percy' Jackson is a demigod, the son of Sally Jackson and the Greek God Poseidon. He has ADHD and Dyslexia... He now knows his father's identity and must find his place in a world far larger than he ever imagined. He loves his mother deeply and despises his stepfather, Gabe Ugliano, who is a dick.]
[Active Effects:]
[Demigod Physiology - Grants +2 VIT, +2 DEX and the abilities to: breathe underwater, communicate with aquatic life, create minor earthquakes, communicate with equines, control water, and generally look cool.]
Holy. Shit.
His HP and MP were off the charts! All that just for being in the water? And his Strength, Dexterity, and Vitality were all in the twenties! This was the ultimate proof. He was the son of Poseidon.
Percy mentally clicked the new title he'd received. The massive bonuses were only active while he was in water, which was situational, but it was a ridiculously powerful boost.
He dismissed the screens and simply floated in the pool, letting it all sink in. He knew who his dad was, and that knowledge alone had made him level up twice. He had ten stat points to spend and a whole list of new abilities he had no idea how to use.
He pulled up his status again, his eyes landing on the 'breathe underwater' ability. He might as well try it out.
Taking one last breath of air, he let himself sink to the deep end of the pool. Once there, he closed his eyes and slowly exhaled, emptying his lungs completely. A primal panic began to set in, but the calm logic of Gamer's Mind washed over him, quelling the fear.
Percy opened his eyes and took a breath. Water flooded his lungs, and he tensed, waiting for the agonizing feeling of drowning. It never came. Instead, he felt his body relax, as if this was the first real breath he had taken in his entire life.
He knew the Game wouldn't lie to him, but a part of him still had doubts. Now, as he took another deep, watery breath, they all washed away.
'Ding!'
[By trusting your new abilities, a new skill has been created!]
[Breathing Underwater (Passive) - LVL MAX: You can breathe underwater as perfectly as you breathe air.]
He grinned, moving through the water with a new sense of freedom. He swam a lazy lap underwater, the water seeming to bend to his will, propelling him forward with minimal effort.
'Ding!'
[New Skill Created!]
[Swimming - LVL 5 (40%): Your swimming speed is that of an average swimmer.]
[- Speed: 2 miles per hour]
Percy looked at the notification and frowned. Only average? For a son of the Sea God, he expected to be a natural-born torpedo. He spent the rest of the day and the entire afternoon lapping the pool, pushing himself to move faster and faster.
'Ding!'
[Swimming has leveled up to LVL 6!]
[- Speed: 2.5 miles per hour]
He shook his head and pushed harder, again and again, swimming until his head spun with vertigo. The moment the dizziness started, he felt a cool, soothing sensation as the water healed him, clearing his head instantly.
'Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!'
The notifications kept coming, a constant stream of level-ups, but Percy ignored them. He needed to get faster. He wanted to be faster. Nothing else mattered. When the lifeguard finally blew the whistle to announce the pool was closing, Percy reluctantly got out. He checked the final notification.
[Swimming - LVL 10 (30%): Your swimming speed is that of an advanced swimmer.]
[- Speed: 4.5 miles per hour]
A satisfied smile spread across his face. That was a good speed, but it wasn't enough. Next Sunday, he was going to double it. That was the plan.
He found a shadowy corner and quickly pulled a dry towel and his shirt from his inventory. After drying off and getting dressed, he stuffed the wet towel back into the inventory box and left for his dorm. He noticed his eyesight was perfectly clear, completely unaffected by the chlorine. Must be a perk, he thought. With time to spare, he decided to head back to the library.
….
That night, Percy sat on his bed with a full belly and a sense of accomplishment. He'd improved his English again, focusing on books about Greek mythology. It seemed only fitting, considering he was a freaking demigod.
[Language: Modern English (Passive) - LVL 7 (40%):]
[- Reading Level: Grade 6]
[- 35% comprehension penalty when reading.]