Percy Jackson: The Silver Wolf of the Goddess of Love

Chapter 31: Bigger Lion



The original Nemean Lion roared, the ground trembling under its sheer power. Its golden mane shimmered brighter than the others, and its eyes seemed to burn with a primal rage. This was no ordinary beast—this was a creature of legend.

Yami hovered in the air with his wings spread wide, glaring down at the lion. "So, just to confirm, we're fighting Hercules' unfinished business now? Perfect, absolutely perfect."

Luke gripped his weapons tightly, his knuckles white. "This is going to be one of those stories they tell at camp, isn't it? Assuming we survive."

Hikari clenched his fist, the blades in his gauntlet gleaming in the sunlight. His robotic gauntlet glowed faintly as it charged with energy. "We've got one shot at this, so don't hold back. Keep it distracted, and I'll go for the opening."

Artemis stepped forward, her silver bow drawn. "Do not underestimate this beast. It's far more powerful than the ones you've faced before. Stay sharp and do not falter."

The lion roared again, charging at the group with terrifying speed. Artemis loosed an arrow that struck its flank, but the beast barely flinched. It lunged toward Yami, who dived out of the way, slashing at it with his scythe. The blade glanced off its hide harmlessly.

"Yep, still indestructible," Yami muttered as he rolled to his feet.

Luke sprinted around the lion, throwing daggers in an attempt to draw its attention. The beast snarled, snapping at him with its massive jaws, but Luke managed to stay just out of reach.

Hikari observed the lion's movements carefully, waiting for the right moment. He could feel his body adapting, his strength growing with every second of the fight. The blessing of Ares coursed through him, sharpening his reflexes and heightening his senses.

Artemis, meanwhile, kept her huntresses at bay, knowing this fight required precision rather than numbers. She fired another arrow, this time aiming for the lion's eye, but the beast turned its head at the last second, the arrow bouncing off its golden mane.

"It's faster than I anticipated," Artemis muttered, her expression grim.

The lion roared again, its massive paw swiping at Yami and sending him crashing into a tree. He groaned, shaking off the impact. "Okay, that hurt. A lot."

Luke rushed to his side, helping him up. "You good?"

"Define 'good,'" Yami replied, wincing.

Hikari seized the moment when the lion turned its back to him. He sprinted forward, leaping onto the beast's back. His gauntlet's blades dug into the golden hide, providing just enough grip to hold on. The lion bucked and roared, trying to shake him off.

"Get ready!" Hikari shouted as he climbed toward the lion's head.

The lion, realizing the threat, shook violently, nearly throwing him off. It reared back, opening its jaws to roar again.

"Now!" Hikari yelled, summoning a massive fireball in his free hand. With a burst of energy, he shoved the fireball down the lion's throat.

The beast roared in pain, flames erupting from its mouth and nostrils. It thrashed wildly, knocking Hikari to the ground. Artemis fired another arrow, this time striking the beast in its now-vulnerable mouth. The arrow exploded with divine energy, and the lion let out a final, deafening roar before collapsing.

Silence fell over the forest as the dust settled. The lion's massive body shimmered briefly before disintegrating, leaving behind a gleaming golden pelt.

Yami sat up, groaning. "Please tell me that was the last one."

Luke helped him to his feet, shaking his head. "If there's a bigger one, I'm quitting."

Hikari stood, his robotic arm sparking slightly. He looked at the golden pelt, then at Artemis. "Well, I guess we did it. What now?"

Artemis approached, her expression unreadable. She placed a hand on the golden pelt, inspecting it carefully. "This is a prize worthy of legend. You have proven yourself, son of Aphrodite, but know this—your journey is far from over."

Hikari smirked. "Yeah, I kind of figured."

Artemis turned to her huntresses, giving them a nod. "Prepare to move out. The hunt continues elsewhere."

As the huntresses began to pack up, Yami looked at Hikari. "So, what are you going to do with that thing? Make a coat?"

Hikari shrugged. "I'll figure something out. Maybe a cape? Or armor? Who knows?"

Luke laughed. "Just don't turn it into a rug. That'd be a waste."

Artemis watched them with a faint smile before turning her gaze to the horizon. "You three are reckless, but perhaps there's potential in your chaos. We shall see."

Later that night, the huntress and demi gods were eating the meet of the lion, the trio of demi gods leanred that day monster meet his taste.

Hikari then gave some to Karin, as she ate, Zoe onec again tryed to touch the Demonesses hiding as a snake, but once again her hand was slapped away by the tale. She still had no idea that the snake was not only a snake

Karin then spoke in Hikari head. "Love I hate this, immortal".

He then spoke back to her through there telepathic link. "Hey she is not use to getting rejected by animals".

Hikari looked at Zoe. "Can you stop that".

Zoe huffed, pulling her hand back after being slapped once again by Karin's tail. She looked at Hikari with a sharp gaze, clearly irritated. "You should control your... pet, child of Aphrodite," she snapped, her voice dripping with disdain. "No creature in my presence has ever dared to reject me, especially not a mere snake."

Hikari gave her a flat look, unfazed by her tone. "First off, she's not a pet, Zoe. And second, it's not like she's doing it on purpose. Can you just... leave her alone for once?"

Zoe narrowed her eyes, clearly annoyed, but said nothing more, crossing her arms and turning away.

Meanwhile, Yami, who had been quietly munching on his portion of the lion, looked between Hikari and Zoe with a smirk. "Guess someone's got a serious case of the 'I'm-not-used-to-being-rejected' blues."

Luke chuckled, leaning back against a tree. "If it makes you feel better, Hikari, Karin's probably the only one here who can stand up to Zoe."

Artemis, who had been observing the interactions, finally spoke up. "Zoe has always been like this. Her pride is... difficult to manage. She'll come around, eventually." Her tone softened as she glanced at Karin, who had now slithered back to rest beside Hikari, her eyes still sharp and watchful.

Hikari glanced at Artemis, then back at Karin. "I just hope we can get some peace before Zoe tries to start another fight."

Yami smirked again, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Don't worry. We'll be too busy with whatever new crazy thing Artemis has lined up for us next." He paused, glancing over at the goddess. "So... what's next, Artemis? Another quest? Maybe a Hydra this time?"

Artemis looked at Yami, her face unreadable for a moment before she finally responded with a small, knowing smile. "No. We rest tonight. Tomorrow, the real challenge begins."

The trio exchanged glances, unsure of what Artemis meant by that. But as the fire crackled and the moonlight bathed the campsite, they knew one thing for certain: the hunt was far from over.

Late that night, as Artemis was going to sleep, she stopped as she saw Irish message as she looked at what the Goddess of Rainbow wanted, as then it shows Aphrodite.

Artemis looked at her. "What do you want Aphrodite".

Aphrodite gave her a smirk. "Noting much, how is my son".

Artemis just looked at her and rolled her eyes. "He is doing good, he is one of few men's that is different".

Aphrodite then looked at her. "Maybe your just getting soft and noting the good people".

Artemis scooped at that and looked at the love Goddes. "As if".

Aphrodite then looked at her. "So Has Hikari shown any type of Sky Related powers, you know with him being the Grandson of Uranus everything".

Artemis looked at her and spoke. "And how are you so sure he will have any powers to control the stars, sky's, and space like Great Grandfather".

Aphrodite's smile widened as she leaned in, her voice teasing but with a hint of concern. "Oh, I have my ways of knowing, Artemis. You know me, I don't just gossip. But I did notice something when I saw him earlier. His energy feels... familiar. Like he carries more than just his mother's influence."

Artemis raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "You always were one to notice such details. But Hikari is his own person, Aphrodite. His abilities won't simply be handed down to him just because of his bloodline."

Aphrodite's gaze softened, her tone shifting slightly. "You think I don't know that? But tell me, sister, have you seen his potential yet? Perhaps he has yet to discover it, or perhaps he doesn't even realize what he's capable of."

Artemis hesitated for a moment before answering, her eyes shifting toward the sleeping form of Hikari across the camp. "I've seen enough. He has a fire inside him, but his path isn't as clear-cut as the others. He's not just the son of Aphrodite, nor is he merely the grandson of Uranus. He's something different, something unique."

Aphrodite chuckled softly. "You're just as stubborn as always. But trust me, Artemis, you'll see what I mean soon enough. It's in his blood. And the sky's power might just be the key to understanding him—and his place in this world."

Artemis' gaze darkened, her thoughts drifting toward her own connection with the stars, with Orion, and with the endless night sky. "Perhaps. But don't mistake this for your usual matchmaking. Hikari's destiny is his own to shape. We may have similar blood, but that doesn't mean he'll follow the same path."

Aphrodite's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, I never said he'd follow your path. But I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss what's written in the stars. After all, the skies have a way of changing the fate of even the most reluctant hero."

Artemis didn't respond immediately, instead choosing to turn her attention back to the night sky. The moonlight shone brightly above, casting a silvery glow across the camp, and for a moment, she allowed herself to contemplate Aphrodite's words. She didn't believe in fate in the same way Aphrodite did, but she couldn't ignore the strange sense of foreboding she felt whenever she looked at Hikari.

"Keep your eyes on him," Aphrodite added, her voice softening. "The universe has a way of drawing lines between people—sometimes in ways we least expect."

Artemis stayed silent, her thoughts swirling around Aphrodite's cryptic words. She had no intention of becoming involved in whatever games Aphrodite was playing, but deep down, she knew Aphrodite wasn't wrong. Hikari's journey was far from over, and it was clear that the boy was tied to more than just Aphrodite's influence.

The Goddess of the Moon finally spoke, her voice firm. "I'll watch over him, as I do with all who seek my protection. But know this, Aphrodite: I won't let anything happen to him, not even if the stars themselves decide to intervene."

Aphrodite's laugh echoed softly, but there was no malice in it. "Of course, Artemis. Of course. Good night."

With that, the connection was severed, leaving Artemis alone with her thoughts. She stared at the night sky again, lost in her contemplation. Somewhere, beyond the stars, the universe was moving in ways that even she couldn't predict, and Hikari, it seemed, was caught in its pull. She just didn't know whether he was ready to embrace what lay ahead of him—or if he ever would.

But one thing was certain: his journey had only just begun.

Artemis then ended the call she just sighed. "She is annoying, why is she like this"

The next morning arrived, Hikari, Luke, And Yami were ready to Finally Complete the quest.

Luke just sighed. "I swear if we get dragged to another damm side quest I will kill the first demi god I see".

Yami also sighed. "Yeah, we are here trying to get the furr of reg sun Sheep's, not do every side quests by every god"

Hikari chuckled lightly at his friends' frustration. "Well, we did sign up for this, didn't we? Part of being a demi-god means dealing with all the distractions. Besides, it's not like you two are immune to getting involved in side quests either."

Luke shot him a look. "Oh, don't remind me. I think I've done more side quests in my time than actual main quests."

Yami nodded in agreement. "Yeah, and sometimes it feels like those side quests are the real missions while the 'main' ones are just background noise."

Hikari smirked. "Well, the sooner we finish this one, the sooner we can go back to finding the sun sheep. I don't know about you two, but I'm looking forward to getting my hands on that fur."

Luke crossed his arms. "At least the hunt was fun. I guess you did something right this time, Hikari."

Hikari grinned. "I aim to please."

Just as they were about to head off to finish the quest, they heard a familiar voice.

"Not so fast," Artemis called out as she approached them, her presence commanding attention. "Before you leave, I have one more task for you. A small one."

The trio stopped in their tracks. "Another side quest?" Luke groaned, looking up at the sky as if pleading for mercy.

Artemis looked at him with an unreadable expression. "Not exactly. But there's something you should know. The path you're taking leads through the Forest of Shadows, a place where even the bravest of warriors lose their way."

Hikari raised an eyebrow. "The Forest of Shadows? Sounds like a place we should avoid."

Artemis shook her head. "No, it's a place you must go through. But beware—the forest has its own guardians, and they aren't always friendly."

Yami scoffed. "Guardians, huh? Do they come with a warning label or something?"

Artemis narrowed her eyes. "Be prepared. And remember, you'll only pass through unharmed if you respect the forest's rules."

"Great, more rules," Luke muttered under his breath.

Artemis gave him a pointed look but didn't say anything more. "Just be cautious. The forest might test you in ways you don't expect. And do not—under any circumstances—try to fight the guardians."

Hikari nodded. "Understood. We'll stick to the path and avoid trouble."

Artemis seemed satisfied with that answer. "Good. And one more thing," she added, her tone turning serious. "Hikari, the more I see you, the more I believe you'll be tested in ways that go beyond what you've experienced before. Stay vigilant."

Hikari felt a shiver run down his spine. "Thanks for the warning, Artemis. We'll be careful."

With that, Artemis turned and disappeared into the forest, leaving the trio to continue their journey.

"Well, that was... enlightening," Yami said dryly.

Luke sighed. "I'm starting to think we'll never actually get to the sun sheep."

Hikari chuckled. "Just think of it as one more step toward the end goal."

The three of them started walking, heading toward the Forest of Shadows, unsure of what awaited them. The tension in the air was palpable, but there was no turning back now. They had their mission, and they were determined to finish it—side quests and all.

As they ventured deeper into the forest, the trees seemed to close in around them, their thick branches blocking out most of the light. The path was narrow and winding, and every now and then, strange whispers echoed from the shadows, sending chills down their spines.

"I don't like this," Yami muttered, his wings twitching nervously.

Hikari glanced around, feeling the weight of the forest's watchful presence. "Yeah, I don't either. But we have to keep moving."

Luke frowned. "Do you guys hear that? It's like something's following us."

Just as he spoke, a dark shape darted between the trees, vanishing before they could get a clear look at it.

Hikari's grip on his gauntlet tightened. "Stay alert."

Suddenly, they heard a low growl from the shadows ahead. And then, from the darkness emerged a pair of glowing red eyes, followed by a massive, shadowy figure. The creature was covered in dark fur, its body shifting and blending with the shadows, making it difficult to get a clear view of it.

It was one of the guardians Artemis had warned them about.

Yami stepped forward, his wings unfurling. "Alright, let's do this."

But before they could make a move, the creature lunged, a flash of fangs and claws aiming straight for them.

"Don't fight it!" Hikari shouted, grabbing Yami's arm and pulling him back. "Remember what Artemis said!"

The creature paused mid-attack, its red eyes locking onto Hikari's with an almost knowing gaze.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then, with a snarl, the creature disappeared back into the shadows, leaving the trio standing in stunned silence.

"What just happened?" Luke asked, his voice low and confused.

Hikari exhaled slowly. "I think... it was testing us."

Yami scowled. "Testing us? By nearly eating us alive?"

"Yeah," Hikari muttered, looking at the spot where the creature had disappeared. "But we passed. For now."

Luke shook his head. "I'm starting to think this forest might be more trouble than it's worth."

Hikari glanced at his friends, a determined look in his eyes. "We'll get through it. Just keep your wits about you."

With a final glance at the eerie shadows surrounding them, they pressed forward, ready for whatever else the forest—and the quest—had in store for them.

To be continued

Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones


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