Trickster Wukong

"H-He bathed in the River of Styx…?"

In a marble dining hall, six individuals sat around a long table, each of them wearing different expressions as Hera stammered.

However, as the seconds of silence passed, Hera's face contorted from one of astonishment to rage.

"He bathed in the River of Styx?!" She roared, repeating her former question and snapping everyone out of their trance.

"Is that a bad thing?" 

All eyes turned to Demeter as she spoke.

It was uncommon for Demeter to speak without being addressed, especially when winter came.

"I'm surprised you're asking something so blatant. That question should be self-explanatory." 

Hera stared at Demeter, furrowing her eyebrows as a thought occurred to her.

"Yes, I'm aware that bathing in the River is considered Taboo."

"However, were there any rules that forbade him from committing such acts?" Demeter retorted, briefly silencing Hera.

"Though I agree the River of Styx should not be trifled with, I would suggest allowing the boy to continue."

"If he dies, it works in our favour anyway." Aphrodite smiled while resting back on her chair, crossing her legs.

Ares scoffed from beside her.

"Please, you're merely seeking an insipid form of entertainment." 

Aphrodite shrugged, chuckling as she pressed her palm on her cheek.

"What can I say? The boy…interests me." 

"There's something else." Hermes interrupted them, already on his feet as he briefed everyone on the events in Tartarus.

With all eyes turning to him, he continued.

"Shortly after emerging from the River, the boy was successful in killing The Minotaur."

"!!!"

Despite the dining hall instantly falling silent, the expressions of the gods spoke volumes.

Aphrodite and Ares' cocky demeanour had crumbled as their heads perked up like curious cats.

Hera's lips moved but no matter how much she tried to speak, all she was capable of mustering was, "It can't be."

"The Minotaur? Preposterous. That monster is one capable of facing Hercules head on. Besides, wasn't The Minotaur working under Brontes?"

Despite the other reactions, Zeus was far less gullible.

Despite the feeling the others around the table had toward Hercules, they understood the magnitude of such a feat.

"That was how I was able to confirm. Brontes tags all his workers with a device that guarantees he is always in 'Control' as he puts it."

"It was because of this device that they were able to retrieve the Minotaur's carcass…well, what was left of it at least." 

Hermes chuckled as his own joke, Zeus' expression slowly changing to match the others around him.

'That boy…did I perhaps underestimate him.'

Demeter shared in the surprise, however, for different reasons.

Despite Illian completely disregarding her advice, she wasn't mad, in fact, she didn't know what she was feeling.

No, that wasn't right. 

She knew what it was, it had just been a while since she'd experienced it.

'Hope…Persephone.'

While this happened, Hera turned her head, glaring at the quiet Zeus. 

Though he could feel Hera's eyes almost feel like daggers into the side of his face, he didn't acknowledge this as he rose to his feet.

"If we are right, there's a chance the boy solely requested to be sent to the Underworld for the River."

"And it's clear he's achieved what he has wanted. Power."

"And in pursuit of that power, he has made a fool of us."

-CRACKLE

-BOOM

Zeus' eyes glowed blue as thunder BOOMED, the sky darkening.

"If so, I will not stand for this act against my honour."

The surrounding gods stayed quiet, their usual contribution to the topic ceases as none dared to near the storm that was Zeus' fury.

But they didn't need to speak. They knew the real reason for Zeus' opposition.

He was wary at the thought of what the boy might become if he continued.

'With whatever his weapon is then bathing in the River of Styx and now the Minotaur.'

'Anymore and…I can't imagine what else might come from his path to tyranny.'

Hera thought, nodding in agreement. 

As a figure in power, she put it upon herself and the gods of Olympus to…

"Rid anything that might put the world in a state of imbalance."

"Tsk, I should've known when I saw those eyes." Zeus spoke, the others keeping their gaze on him. 

But one was different from the others.

'Zeus, the God of Olympus.'

Demeter thought, her eyes glued on the colossal white haired figure, her expression emotionless.

A benevolent, omnipotent and omniscient being. Though the latter two might have been true…

'Zeus is nothing but a dishonourable and petty being.'

She came to this conclusion long ago. 

She relied on him.

The God of Olympus, the only one who could help rescue her daughter.

"Do you really think it's worth engaging in war against Hades? Accept the compromise and avoid unnecessary bloodshed."

That was what he'd told her. She trusted him but only later did she realise her foolishness.

Cowardice? Logic? She asked herself, 'What made him act like this?'

But it was clear. Simple apathy paired with a lifetime of narcissism.

Since then, her perfect image of Zeus crumbled, his true nature becoming apparent to her as time went on.

Despite this, Demeter didn't dare speak. 

No matter how she felt about Zeus, no one could help her if Zeus directed his iron fist at her.

In the next second, Demeter pursed her lips as she looked away. 

In that moment, she remembered what the primary motive was of making Illian slowly consume the River.

It was to avoid this attention.

'You wretched child. Why couldn't you just listen to what I told you.'

"Ares…"

Zeus' thunderous tone rang out as Ares jumped to his feet like a soldier before their sergeant.

"I have a mission for you." Zeus grinned, Ares' lips also curling upwards as he no longer could contain himself.

'Boy, I hope you know what you're doing. For both our sakes.'

***

-CREAK

Two large twin doors creaked open, slithers of light entering the large dark hall as a figure stepped in.

With a short stature and a large round head, the figure, wearing ragged dark clothes with a hood over his head, walked inside with quick steps.

Walking through the narrow hall with the seemingly endless row of colossal pillars beside him on each side, he soon came to a stop before small steps.

Pausing for a second, he soon bowed on one knee, his eyes lowered.

"I have come with information, your Highness."

The figure spoke, a silence enveloping the darkness till a different voice broke it.

"Commence."

An individual within the darkness replied, the silhouette of what seemed to be a throne and someone sitting atop it barely being visible.

With a nod, the bowing figure removed his hood, revealing large unnatural eyes and dark greenish skin.

"We were once again unsuccessful in killing the Creature. He continues to invade our territory, kill our soldiers and run rampant within the Dark Forest."

It was clear there was some hesitation in the gremlin's tone as he spoke, and for good reason as the figure in the dark's eye twitched as he heard this.

The gremlin quickly tried to alleviate the tense air his previous words had caused.

"Though we aren't sure how the 'Glare' from the forest does not affect him, reports show he is nearing the Dreadscale's Territory."

"If this keeps going, the creature will walk himself into his own death…"

"'Creature' isn't right."

The figure interrupted the Gremlin in a neutral tone as the gremlin raised an eyebrow.

"They call themselves 'Humans'."

"Human? I've never heard of them."

Living in Tartarus, it wasn't long until most creatures and beings fell into the natural hierarchy of Predator and Prey.

They were seen as nothing else. And that view was all the more factual the longer one spent there.

It was simply survival of the fittest.

"Well, it is still unknown whether or not this is the same 'Human' from back then."

"After all, that human died in the River of Styx and the peculiar weapon he carried hasn't been sighted since."

~Elsewhere at the same time~

Sharp breaths could be heard as a figure darted through a dimly lit forest.

With agile and acrobatic movements, he manoeuvred through the terrain, dashing over the large branches and sweeping through the dense bushes.

Landing on the ground, the figure paused for a second, looking back and falling silent, his heartbeat even seeming to quell as distant, muffled sounds of what seemed like tremors entered his ears.

Hearing this, he turned, dashing once again and disappearing into the darkness as if he were one with them.

~Gremlin Hall~

"No…it is the same Human."

The gremlin looked up as he stared in confusion for a second.

"How can you tell?" He asked, his curiosity making him forget his manners for a second.

"Because I can't remember the last time I've heard of a Human residing in Tartarus."

"One who's alive at that. What are the chances two of them arrive around the same time?"

The gremlin soon lowered his head, nodding shortly after as he agreed to this logic.

"You're right…"

-BOOM

The gremlin was interrupted by a quaking BOOM as the ground shook violently and the very air seemed to thicken.

"What's happening?!" The gremlin shot to his feet, looking back with his eyes widened.

~Meanwhile, outside the gate~

"Fall back! Raise your weapons and prepare for battle. Clear a path to the tunnels for the King!"

Dozens of gremlins stood with different weapons while a heavily armoured gremlin standing before them all, yelling as he commanded his troops.

Looking back and preparing for battle, the large wooden front gate had been blown off its hinges.

As the dust settled, it soon revealed whatever was behind it.

However, as the seconds passed, the silhouette of a figure became more and more vivid. 

And as it did, the expressions of every gremlin slowly changed to one of dread as they stopped breathing.

"D-Dreadscale…"

The commander muttered, watching the giant creature peek from out of the dust cloud. 

From the subtle features like the dark scales that shimmered in the dark and reptilian eyes with the vertical pupils, all the way to the obvious signs like the long sharp fangs and two large heads, it didn't take long for the Commander to realise the situation they were in.

And it was because of this knowledge and experience he instantly turned his head, looking away.

"Everybody look away and keep your mind strong…"

The commander yelled but paused as he witnessed everyone of his soliders frozen, staring expressionless as the Dreadscale, their mouths wide open as tendrils of darkness slithered closer to the each of them.

'Tsk, it's too late. At least this'll give me enough time to get the King out of here.'

The commander thought, dashing away toward the tallest building amongst the wooden huts around, never looking back.

However, in his urgency, he failed to notice the bright golden pupils peering at him from above in the darkness.

***

"Your highness, I've come to escort you out."

The Commander barged into the large dark hall, both the gremlin inside and the King staring at him, quiet.

"It's just me. Everyone else was entranced by a Dreadscale that has taken down our gate."

He walked toward them, trying to catch his breath while continuing his report.

However, they continued staring without saying a word.

"Yes, I know. I don't know why the Dreadscale has come all this way either. It's not like it to suddenly migrate. And last I knew, we hadn't done anything to anger it…"

"Who…are you?"

The Commander paused as he stared at the Gremlin speak. 

Now that he was closer, he could see the gremlins expression.

With wide eyes and sweat running down his face, he stared.

However, the longer the commander looked, the more he realised he wasnt the one being stared at.

Slowly turning his head back like a rusty robot, he witnessed a figure standing at the door.

Wearing what almost looked like random black cloth wrapped around his body, tied around his forearm and shin, he hung the same cloth from his back like a cape as it covered his lower face.

The most regular thing about his clothes was the large boots he wore but this wasnt what the gremlins noticed. 

No, rather it was the bright golden eyes.

"Grr, I said who are you?!"

The gremlin yelled again, snapping out of his trance.

But to this, the figure stayed unmoving. 

Instead, he pulled down the cloth from his face, revealing his lips curled upwards as he wore a devious grin, fashioning his sharp teeth and what looked like a golden furred tail flapping behind him.

"Nice to meetcha."