30+ Advance chapters on my [email protected]/Saintbarbido.
Help me out with POWERSTONES if you like the story.
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(PERCY's P.O.V) -PROTAGONIST BIASED-
I sat around the campfire, watching the flames crackle and dance in the night air.
My mind kept replaying Loth's retreat, the look of fear and confusion on his face when his hand... changed.
Out of everyone in the Camp, Loth was the only one that understood how I really felt, even more than Grover. Which sounds awful to my best friend but it was the truth.
We were different in many ways but similar in even more.
We shared interests like reading, though Loth had a wider appreciation for varied literature like Comic books, Manga and Webnovels, while I was mostly into mythology and history- Mostly because Greek was the only language that I could properly read with my dyslexia.
He also preferred to be alone, and I could understand the need. But while I'd learned to be alone because I sucked at making friends and people thought I was weird, he was comfortable with solace.
It wasn't hard to notice the way he tried to keep his distance from Me and the others. He also liked deflecting whenever asked anything personal- indication of a troubled family life. Just like mine.
He hated bullies and could be loyal when it mattered. I like to think I was the same too.
If I could point out the biggest difference between us, he was brave where I was not.
He had faced down spiders, saved us from a Gryphon, fought a Hellhound AND Clarrise. That was ontop of finding out one of your parents is a frigging God who had abandoned you, and is the sole reason why monsters will forever hunt you."
Loth took to learning magic and survival with an almost obsessive zeal, while I floundered about, shell shock and distraught with Mom's death.
It was only because of Loth that I found the courage to face forward.
So why? Why did he change? What happened to make him so...different? And why did I fail to see it? I'm his friend right?
"Hey, Earth to Percy," Annabeth said, snapping her fingers in front of my face.
I blinked, realizing she, Grover, and Luna were all staring at me.
"You gonna share what's on your mind, or are we supposed to guess?" Annabeth asked, crossing her arms.
I sighed, running a hand through my hair. "It's Loth. Something's seriously wrong with him. Since the Hellhound, he's been different. We need to figure out what's going on before..."
"Before he hurts someone?" Annabeth finished, her voice softening.
I nodded, stomach twisting in knots. "Or himself."
Luna, who had been been playing with the sparks she had somehow pulled from the fire, perked up, "Ooh! Ding ding! The site where you fought the Hellhound. We should start there. I can use the Mist to find clues on what's wrong with brother."
That was a great idea.
Grover shuffled nervously. "You mean the place where a giant demon dog tried Percy and Loth? Yeah, sounds fun."
Annabeth shot him a look. "Stop whining. We leave at first light."
---
The forest was eerily quiet as the four of us approached the spot, which still held signs of our battle.
Morning sunlight filtered through the trees, but it did little to dispel the dark presence where the Hellhound had died.
I clutched Anasklusmos tightly within my pocket, ready to uncap the sword Chiron had gifted me and defend my friends.
Luna knelt by the stream, her hands glowing faintly as she manipulated the Mist.
I sensed it invade the water just as the air around us shimmered, revealing faint claw marks on the trees and strange symbols carved into the bark.
"What are those?" I asked, stepping closer.
"Summoning glyphs," Annabeth said grimly. "Loth was right, someone brought the Hellhound here on purpose."
My stomach dropped. "Why?"
"Could be a lot of reasons," she replied, tracing one of the runes with her finger. "But considering it targeted you and Loth specifically..."
Luna stood abruptly, her eyes wide.
"There's more." She pointed to the claw marks on the ground, dark smoke rising off the dirt. "That magic—it's the same as what I felt around Brother's injury."
Did she mean the scratches on his left hand? I hadn't thought much of it, but it was strange the Nectar Chiron gave him hadn't helped, given he still wore a bandage.
Grover's ears twitched nervously. "You mean... whatever's happening to him started here?"
Annabeth's jaw tightened. "Looks like it."
"The Hellhound. It might have cursed or infected him with something. We need to find Loth. Now."
The others nodded in agreement.
---
Back at camp, we split up to look for Loth. I checked the cabins, the dining pavilion, even the stables, but he was nowhere to be found. Finally, a group of campers pointed me toward the arena.
When I got there, I froze.
Loth stood in the center of the fighting platform, shirtless, covered in cuts and left hand bandaged.
He faced five armed Ares campers, all of them grinning like they'd already won.
The crowd around them cheered, betting on how long he'd last. And Loth, wasn't scared. If anything, he looked ferocious, face twisted in a growl like expression that showed his lengthened canines.
And his eyes...was it just me or were they yellow?
"What the Hades is he doing?" I muttered.
Annabeth and Grover caught up to me, both equally shocked at the sight.
"I've asked around and Apparently, this has been going on for days," Annabeth said, her voice tight. "He's been coming here to fight the Ares kids—multiple at once."
"Why?" I asked, but no one had an answer.
On the platform, Loth blocked a sword swing with his bare hands, his fingers—no, claws—stopping the blade mid-air.
"How's he fighting bare-handed? He's not afraid of losing a finger?" Grover whispered.
"The real question is why celestial bronze weapons don't pass through him like a normal person." Annabeth replied.
The answer was obvious. Whatever the Hellhound had done to Loth, he was no longer a normal person. Then again...neither was I.
---
As the last Ares camper went flying off the platform, Clarisse stepped forward, a wicked grin on her face.
"My turn," she said, hefting her electric spear. "Time for some payback, new kid."
Loth's lips curled into a feral smile. "Bring it on."
He dropped to all fours, his movements animalistic. The crowd went silent, the tension thick in the air.
My heart skipped a beat as a deep growl escaped Loth, reminding me of how close he came to hurting Grover. I couldn't let that happen. Loth wouldn't forgive himself.
"Loth, stop!" I shouted, pushing through the spectators.
He didn't listen.
Clarisse charged, but Loth moved faster, lunging at her with a snarl. In the air, his body grew larger, straining his clothes, dark fur sprouted across his forearms and the claws grew sharper and longer.
I knew without a doubt that Clarrise was going to die. Loth's claws were aimed for her throat.
Before he could reach her, his body seized, and he collapsed onto the platform, writhing in pain.
The crowd erupted into murmurs.
"Crap."
Annabeth cussed as the two of us rushed to his side.
"Loth, can you hear me?" I asked, shaking him gently.
"Ah, someone got limp dicked at the last minute."
A snotty laugh sounded.
"Shut up Clarrise! Before I finish what Loth started and feed you your tongue."
Annabeth shot back. She was controlling, stubborn and a know it all, but at that moment, I could have kissed her.
Loth groaned as I gave him Ambrosia.
"Per...perc?"
His eyes flickered open, glowing faintly yellow. He growled, his voice distorted and guttural. "Get... away..."
"No chance," I said firmly.
With Grover's help, we carried him to the infirmary, Annabeth snapping at the gawking campers to move aside.
(General P.O.V)
Loth woke up hours later, his face pale and his breathing shallow. He looked around, finding himself in the infirmary.
Percy, Grover, Annabeth and Luna surrounded his bed, with Chiron seated bedside, the centaur's expression grim.
"What's happening to me?" Loth croaked, his voice hoarse.
"I'm afraid I have some bad news, Mr. Lothal."
The centaur sighed, removing his glasses. "A Hellhound's claws and teeth carry a magical venom. A curse, if you will. It's rare, but it can corrupt its victim, turning them into something... unnatural."
"A werewolf," Grover cut in excitedly, "So freaking cool Dude! I forgive you for trying to eat me by the way. I totally understand why- shutting up now."
The Satyr trailed off at the sharp look he got from Chiron.
Loth's eyes widened. "You're kidding."
"I wish I were," Chiron replied. "In normal cases, Ambrosia or Nectar would resolve the issue but the problem here is the venom is binding itself to your magic, Luna if you will?"
Luna nodded controlling the mist around Loth's body to reveal the network of his magic circuits under his skin. Loth gaped at the dark aura clashing with the pink magic within his chest.
"Oh God...stop, I don't want to see."
Loth looked away, bitter and angry. Warm hands wrapped around him as Luna hugged him.
"It's alright, brother. Everything will be okay."
"Thanks Luna."
Loth patted her back, leaning into her warmth.
"I'm good now. Chiron, continue."
"Right. And because magic is connected to the spirit, if we don't find a way to stop it, the transformation will be complete and you will become a Lycanthrope Monster Hybrid. Or Werewolf if we go with Grover's eh...suggestion."
Chiron concluded.
"What about the scratch?" Percy asked, pointing to Loth's arm.
Chiron unwrapped the bandage, revealing the dark, smoke-like tendrils seeping from two claw like wounds, and blackened veins across the hairy hand. "This is definitely the source. Does it hurt?"
"No. I Thought it was only a scrape from falling. I don't even remember the Hellhound Clawing me."
Loth turned his hand around. His hairy, Claw tipped, Muscular hand.
"In retrospect, I feel dumb for not realizing sooner...but a Werewolf? Really?"
"How else do you explain the physical changes?"
Annabeth pointed at Loth's larger build.
"The appetite for goat meat."
Percy followed up, earning a protest from Grover.
"The problems with your magic control?"
Luna added.
"And the asshole way you've been treating everyone. An upside to that is teaching the Ares kids a lesson in manners."
Grover gave him a thumbs up.
"Who's been a bad doggy? You, big brother Loth. And Bad doggies need to be punished!"
The fact that Luna was snuggling him and rubbing her face on Loth's neck with a wide smile...went unacknowledged.
"I...I'm s-"
Loth tried to apologize, but...the words wouldn't come out. He still felt like he hadn't done anything wrong. And the only reason he hadn't blown them off in anger was because of Luna. Still, the fact that he knew he WAS wrong and yet the venom showed him otherwise terrified him. Was he too far gone? Was his fate to become a remorseless monster?
His conflicting emotions and shame stopped him from meeting their eyes.
"So how do we stop it? I've gone through the library and there's no mention of a cure." Annabeth cut through the silence.
Chiron hesitated. "There is a way to slow it down, but it won't be easy."
"What is it?" Loth asked, his voice cracking with hope.
"We need venom from Medusa's fang," Chiron said. "It's powerful enough to freeze the Hellhound venom temporarily. At least until a Permanent cure can be found."
Loth groaned. "Great. So all I have to do is survive a deadly snake-haired monster that can turn you into stone with a single eye-contact. Easy."
To make matters worse, Medusa's venom was not even the cure, but a temporary solution.
Annabeth shot him a glare. "You don't have a choice. Turn into a Goat-eating monster or risk becoming a stone statue. In my opinion, at least a statue won't shed."
Loth sighed, his exhaustion giving way to resolve. "Yeah. I know. Medusa's fang it is."
"Good. I'll start looking into her. My book senses are tingling with a lead...If things go well, It might even turn into a Quest!"
Annabeth said, getting ready to leave.
"Apollo I beg you...please don't let it turn into a Quest!"
Grover prayed.
"We'll help her."
Percy nodded at Loth while grabbing the Satyr.
"I'll come by later."
"Guys."
The group paused, waiting for him to continue. Loth scratched his head, embarrassed.
"Thank you. I really mean it."
"Don't mention it. It's what friends do."
Percy smiled.
Loth's head dropped, feeling guilty at the concern they were showing him. Someone who didn't even consider them as friends, but characters in a story.
"Oh and I forgot to mention two details." Chiron said as he left. "One, you only have two weeks till the Transformation is complete and two, if that happens you will be under the control of the one who Summoned the Hellhound."
"What? Hang on-"
"Oh and you might lose your magic in the process too."
Luna added, waving at him from the exit.
"Byee Loth."
"Now wait just a minute- Don't leave me he.."
Loth reached out to try and stop them, only for the door to swing shut with a bang, leaving him alone with his thoughts
"...re. Fuck."