The thing about monsters, especially the Greek variety, is that they never learn. Despite being technically immortal, since they just revive in 'The Pit' and return after some time. They never actually learn from their mistakes.
Unfortunately for them, I wouldn't give them a chance to change that.
The borders of Camp Half-Blood were boiling with them. Hellhounds leaping up from the shadows, dracaenae shrieking war cries, espousai weaving magic that my eyes saw right through, cyclops throwing boulders at the flickering barrier.
An actual honest to god tidal wave of monsters tearing apart trees and brush in an attempt to breach the camp's barrier. Some had already gotten through, it was clear that something was wrong with Thalia's barrier.
I stepped forward, rolled my shoulders and sighed.
"Alrighty…" I muttered, resting my hand on Amaterasu's hilt. Kyoka Suigetsu was stashed in my pocket dimension, hypnotism wasn't my goal. "Let's make this quick yeah? I'm hungry."
Mitsuri drew her own blade, her whip like nichirin blade now glowing with new power. Probably a side effect of my mothers blessing on her.
"I'll go find the kids." She said.
I drew my sword, slow and dramatic. For added effect. The whisper of the blade leaving the scabbard drew the attention of some nearby monsters. They roared at me.
Too late.
"Burn and Illuminate… Amaterasu."
The world erupted, localised heat burst from me as I unleashed my Zanpakuto's Shikai. The monsters closest to me didn't even have time to scream as they were instantly erased by Amaterasu's flames.
No revival in Tartarus. Just instantaneous erasure. Final and permanent. The grass around me started to smoulder, some dry twigs caught fire as I burst forward.
Mitsuri dashed forward, leaping over countless monsters. Her smile glowing as she danced through the air. Her whip blade disintegrating monsters into golden dust. She disappeared beyond the camps barrier. I grinned at the monsters surrounding me.
"Well… I can't let my wife show me up now can I?"
A casual swing of my blade erased an entire swarm of monsters… along with a swatch of pine trees. Thankfully there were no nature spirits attached to those. My eyes could see that they were just regular trees.
"OTOUSAN!" I heard a familiar cry.
I turned my head and saw Hikari blast a monster apart with her revolver. She was clearly separated from her siblings.
"You! You just deleted so many trees!" She shouted.
I chuckled as I parried a blow from a cyclops. The one eyed monster's roar was cut off as I flicked a finger at him and blew off his head with a crackling ball of Red.
"There weren't any dryads in those." I shouted back, "our Six Eyes can pick up details like that."
"That's not the point!" She shot a hellhound.
"That's exactly the point." I kicked an empousa into the sky before incinerating it with Amaterasu.
The Minotaur, freshly revived, charged at me from the left. I flicked my sword, erasing its legs before catching the half bull half man across the jaw with a snap kick. Hikari shot it three times in rapid succession.
Behind me Mitsuri reappeared with a graceful pirouette. Her sword beheading several dracaenae in the same movement.
"Darling, the kids are alright. They're helping the other children. Have you seen Hikari, she wasn't with everyone else."
"Okaasan!" Hikari responded before I could answer.
Mitsuri turned towards our daughter just as Hikari crushed a poor hellhound into a ball with Infinity.
Mitsuri skipped over to Hikari and pulled her into a hug. I shrugged and continued to vaporise scores of monsters with Amaterasu while the mother and daughter had a short reunion.
"Satoru!"
'Oh boy… she used my name instead of a pet name.'
I turned to Mitsuri slowly, "Yes…"
"Hikari told me you burned a lot of trees." She pouted.
I slashed a monster in half and crossed my arms as I used Infinity to float Amaterasu and fight monsters autonomously.
"Erased is the proper term dear, I erased a bunch of trees." I corrected.
"You're awful." Mitsuri giggled.
"Besides, they were just regular trees. Not the fun sentient kind."
[Scene Break]
Between my waves of 'cleansing' fire and Mitsuri's joyful Love Breathing efficiency, the battlefield shifted from overwhelming chaos to manageable disorder in minutes. Campers regrouped from their fractured units and pushed forward, crushing the last of the monster horde.
As the last hellhound exploded into dust by a well placed arrow from an Apollo camper, the hidden valley finally fell back into a peaceful silence.
And then…
"Tousan!"
A blurry missile collided with me and nearly put me on my ass. I ruffled Himari's hair with a chuckle as she hopped back. Hikari joined her twin and the two gave me matching peace signs.
"Himari, where's your older brother and sister?" I asked.
I didn't have to wait long for an answer. A few moments after Himari arrived my two eldest children arrived.
Ai and Akira didn't immediately jump to hug Mitsuri and I. They were too busy arguing.
"You said you could handle the west flank!" Akira snapped.
"I did handle the west flank you bozo!" Ai huffed, "At least I'm not the idiot that tripped over the same rock three times!"
"It moved!"
"It was a rock!"
"It. Moved!"
Amaterasu sheathed by my side again, I rubbed a hand over my face. "Ah… I've missed this."
Akira spotted me first, "Dad! Ai blamed me for something that was her fault!"
Ai stomped over to me, "Papa! Tell him it was his fault."
Suddenly I remembered why I didn't have to worry about my eldest children. They could both fight their way out of Tartarus and still have enough energy to fight each other.
Chiron trotted into the clearing, he shook monster dust from his hair and patted his breastplate clean. "Ah, Lord Satoru. I knew I'd find you here where the bickering children were. Your timing is impeccable as always. The camp certainly appreciates the help from your children and your arrival, despite how… destructive it was."
I flashed him a bright smile, "You're welcome… so whose idea was it to let this many monsters gather all at once?"
I knew the campers kept a small amount of monsters in the forest for training. This seemed like something else though, I was looking for confirmation.
The old centaur sighed, rubbing his temples. "We were… compromised.
I raised an eyebrow as his tone grew heavy and grim.
"A camper betrayed us. Poisoned Thalia's tree. Then fled when the monsters arrived. They used the sudden attack as a distraction. Many unclaimed campers left with the traitor."
'Luke? No… he reformed after my arrival. Someone else then…'
Mitsuri's smile dimmed, "That's awful… but why poison a tree?"
I remembered that my family didn't have the privilege of knowing about this world like I did. I waited for Chiron to explain the situation.
Chiron looked towards the hill where the lone towering pine stood, shimmering under mystical warding.
"Several years ago, a group of demigod children arrived at the edge of the camp while a small army of monsters hunted them. One of the children, Thalia… a brave young lady gave her life so that her friends could reach camp."
Mitsuri gasped behind her hand. "Oh no…"
"As she lay dying, her father. Lord Zeus, the king of the Olympians, was moved by his daughter's sacrifice and transformed her into a tree. Casting a spell on it so that it would be the anchor to the barrier that protected the camp since that day."
"That's fucking stupid…" Akira scoffed.
Ai smacked him on the back of the head as the sky rumbled. I chuckled, "My son does have a point… for gods that don't want to interfere with the mortal world you Greeks sure do love interfering. What more… making a powerful barrier but giving it such an obvious weak spot is halfassed as it gets."
The sky rumbled some more, the scent of ozone strengthening.
"Nonetheless, the tree has been poisoned. Should it die then the barrier will fall and monsters will have free reign over this valley." Chiron continued, glancing at the sky nervously.
Mitsuri stepped forward. "I can heal it." The determination was bright in her eyes, her tone leaving little room for argument.
"My Lady, I appreciate your willingness but not even the children of Apollo…"
"I have something stronger." She replied gently, "just let me try."
I rested my hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze while nodding at her. She smiled up at me, kissed my cheek and made her way to the hill.
Ai skipped after her, "Mama can I help?"
Mitsuri laughed softly. "You can keep me company."
[Scene Break]
I sent the rest of my kids off to help the campers clean up and keep watch of the border. Meanwhile, I slowly made my way up the hill to where I sensed Mitsuri and Ai.
When I reached the top of the hill I saw Mitsuri with her hands placed at the base of the tree. Ai was nearby watching curiously.
Then, a soft green glow blossomed beneath Mitsuri's hands. Reversed Curse Technique. Boosted, changed by the blessing my mother gave her and shaped by her warmth and compassion.
The poison recoiled instantly. The thick green substance seeped from a wound on the tree trunk before turning to steam and dispersing harmlessly into the air.
More light gathered, more campers came up to watch the light show.
The air shattered as thunder split the sky. I narrowed my eyes at the gathering clouds, daring Zeus to make a move.
Two campers pushed their way to the front of the crowd. Luke and Annabeth, I glanced at Luke, Hermes must have cleared him if he was back in camp freely moving about with no eyes on him.
A flash of light exploded from the tree and a girl fell out of the trunk, coughing, disoriented, but very much alive.
"No way… Thalia?" Annabeth stepped forward.
"Ugh… Annie? Luke?"
Annabeth sobbed and tackled her. The two barely managed to sit up when Luke embraced both of them. Chiron silently began to shoo the other campers away. The trio tearfully held each other and muttered quietly.
Mitsuri stood next to me, swaying in place from all the energy she had expended to heal the tree and revive Thalia.
Mitsuri held her hands to her chest as we watched the reunion between the three self adopted siblings. "She was alive this whole time Darling."
I pulled my wife close and kissed the side of her head. "You did that Love, I'm so proud of you."
[Scene Break]
Night settled over the camp, Mitsuri went off with our kids to make sure they didn't get into any more trouble. Ai had threatened to set Zeus' cabin on fire with Akira supporting her, their early spat all but forgotten.
Chiron and I stood at the edge of the strawberry fields, overlooking the peaceful camp while my kids were sitting around the campfire with Annabeth, Thalia, and Luke. Mitsuri was close by, supervising the group as my kids animatedly told a story to the three demigods.
"So…" Chiron began carefully, "you intended to descend into the Pit?"
"Yes."
There was no point in beating around the bush. I told him my plans earlier while everyone had dinner. He had told me that we'd talk about it in detail later.
Chiron sighed through his nose, "Lor-," he coughed when I stared at him, "er.. Satoru…"
"Better." I hummed.
"The Titan of Time cannot be easily destroyed. His very essence is tied to time and prophecy itself."
"Pshhh," I scoffed, "he hasn't met me yet… and it's not like there isn't other deities that don't hold the same domains."
The centaur pinched the bridge of his nose. "How did I know you were going to say that."
"Cause you know me so well Chi-tan." I grinned. "I'll make it quick, in and out before breakfast tomorrow morning."
Chiron opened his mouth, and then froze as divine light illuminated the field around us. Hermes stepped forward, looking a little serious. I hadn't met the god before, but I just knew who he was. The winged boots and scepter were a dead giveaway too.
"Chiron! There you are." He sounded out of breath, "you've been summoned to Olympus. Post haste."
Chiron straightened, his rear hoofs stomping in anxiety. "Now? What is this about?"
"Campers leaving? Grandfather rising… Thalia Grace being basically resurrected, a potential civil war… take your pick." Hermes replied dryly, then he noticed me. "You… uh, you were not summoned but I suspect from that grin on your face that you'll show up anyways."
The mentioned grin widened. "You Greeks really do know me so well already."
Chiron gave me a wary look. "Lor- Satoru…"
I gave him a thumbs up. "You'll need emotional support Chi-tan. Maybe some back up even. Someone has to make sure Zeus doesn't make any… stupid decisions."
Chiron muttered something under his breath with a sigh. Something about praying for the gods and hoping no one did anything unwise.
Hermes stared between us. "Fine. Just don't… never mind, whatever warning I give won't matter."
Hermes opened a portal, I turned to my family and the three demigods by the camp fire.
"Honey! I'm going to Olympus, I'll be back soon!" I called out.
Mitsuri waved at me then blew a kiss my way. "Alright! I'll wait for you, don't threaten anyone too much."
"No promises." I waved back.
Hermes turned pale, Chiron groaned.
And thus, with absolutely no sense of restraint, I took the lead and stepped right through the portal to Olympus.
Because really…
When did I ever miss the chance to cause some trouble in another realm?
———————————————-
[AN: A bit of a cliffhanger, sorry lads. I'm back though. Life couldn't keep me down, I'm like a demented weed, I'll keep growing back lmfao. Working on the next chapter already now that the holidays are upon us and I have time. Below are some options for new worlds/realities to visit and a few possible tweaks to the story]
Worlds/Realities:
Marvel
DC
Twilight (for the lolz)
My Hero (MHA)
Tweaks:
More POVs
Another FL (Female Lead) [Story won't be a harem but the idea of Satoru having one more wife has been bounced around before.
More Crack
Tone down the Crack/Humour
(Please vote and or discuss in the comments section or choices)