Gamer Emperor Chapter 50 (Patreon)

 We left the Lotus Casino without too much fanfare... Besides, everyone running and screaming as the dispersing divinity of the god I killed made the pocket realm of the Lotus Eaters shudder and shake.

 But hey, the murder of a god by a mortal. Even with a divine weapon, it had its consequences on the surrounding world as I could feel the more powerful ancient mages watching us with fury at how their home got dragged into this quest by the Fates.

However, they made no moves against us. As the Fates were watching us with a laser focus as we left the casino and just continued walking west.

"Uhmm. How utterly fucked are we for killing that god, Jake?" Andy asked helplessly as she kept stride with me.

And in an utterly dull voice, I said flatly. "We are... So fucking Andy. Completely and utterly turbo fucked. Now the quest is going to throw an even harder challenge at us. Because we were supposed to run away there, probably."

'Did that make the Fates like Dungeon Masters from DND? They tried to scale challenges according to the strength level of their heroes?' I mused to myself before I said thoughtfully.

"We should try to get a ride further west. Walking through the desert is going to be a major pain in the ass to say the least." I said after a moment as I took note of how long we were in the Lotus Eater Casino.

Of which... We only spent a week there, trapped in the temporal shift that came about in being within that pocket realm with its own rules.

So we still had more time than I expected.

Andy made a thoughtful noise before she said sharply. "There Jake! We can sneak into the back of a moving truck!" 

I looked over where Andy was pointing down a road that got off the main strip and made a humming noise as I saw she was pointing out a large parking lot filled with moving vans.

"You know what... Fuck it, you pick the van." I said in realization as I saw that, despite it being the late evening, the site was open with people going back and forth.

Andy brought me over and we quickly learned this was a transfer site for moving vans to be moved across the country itself, and what do you know... In not even five minutes, we found a moving truck that was due to be driven in the next half an hour. Directly to LA.

Yeah, the Fates weren't being subtle in the fucking slightest obviously.

"Try to get some rest... Although we messed around in the Lotus Casino for a week. We didn't actually get any rest at all." I said with a grunt as I secured the latch that locked the moving van door.

I then tossed out a couple of blankets and a rubber mattress as the bottom of the floor of the moving van was to put it lightly... Nasty and seen better years.

"Jake... Do you think my mom is still alright?" Andy asked quietly as she lay sideways on her bed to look towards me.

I sighed softly before saying helplessly. "Yes, she will be fine. The god of the underworld is not kind... But he is fair. And more importantly, he is breaking the rules by keeping her in the underworld to begin with."

If Hades decided to just outright kill Sally Jackson who he took hostage. To say nothing of my own retribution in the far future for killing my maid. He himself would suffer on a cosmic level...

Taking a living human, into the underworld and then killing them without a fair judgment would go against Hades own divinity and the laws of this world.

And Hades himself was always noted as following his own rules and word, the vast majority of the time.

I exhaled softly before I added. "The issue... Is getting your mom. And getting out, while finding the Master Bolt." I said helplessly.

Because I had zero fucking idea when the Master Bolt would land in Andy's backpack. If it even would be put there as we hadn't run across Ares yet.

I shared a bit more of a lighter conversation with Andy for a good while. Before we both fell asleep after the moving van got moving. Taking us away from Las Vegas in the late afternoon.

So that by morning, we would already be far to the west. In California, where the entryway to the Underworld could be found.

We awoke to the sounds of the van hitting its brakes hard. Hard enough that our bed's slid across the moving van's sloor and we almost hit the back wall of the moving van if it wasn't for me holding out my hands above me to catch the wall before our beds hit.

Then a loud voice rang out in annoyance. "Fuck, I've been holding this turtle head for like two hours. Too much damned coffee." 

And then the driver's door on my slammed shut as the driver of this van left so I said with a groan. "Come on. We gotta get out of here Andy."

She nodded with a slight grimace as she said in annoyance. "I need to get washed up and do some stuff as well... I feel icky." 

My lips curled up helplessly as I said with a wry grin. "Andy, the part they never talk about with adventurers and heroes. Is how we don't get easy access to showers and toilets while we trek around the world." 

I just got a dirty look as she grumbled in annoyance. "I didn't want to be a hero... Some asshole just stole my mom, so what can I even do?"

Which, to be fair. Was a valid point to be complaining about.

Still, we quickly got out of the moving van and secured it before I saw that we were at a large trucker stop on the edge of LA basically.

So we both took the chance to get washed up a bit and do our business before we went across the street to the Denny's across the street for cheap breakfast.

"Of course, there is a Denny's across the street. Do you think that they build each off of one another so that drivers can just walk across the street to get a bite before going back to their cabs to sleep Jake?" Andy asked quietly as we waited for our food.

I shrugged before saying thoughtfully. "It's a good system. The truck stop has showers and shit for drivers to get cleaned up and rest. Then they come here to get a cooked meal before they pick up a nasty hooker before bed at the stop." 

Andy snorted at the end of my 'wise' business idea with her shaking her head and then before she could speak further. I paused along with her as a sort of cloying heat filled the dinner.

And then I watched as a large man wearing a biker outfit and glasses stalk into the dinner with a large machete at one side, and a sawed off shotgun on his other side.

'Ah fuck.' I mused helplessly as I looked at his 'status.'

[Ares, Greek God of War- Lvl 280]

His heavy footfalls rang out as he strode toward us with purpose and I could feel his cloying divinity sliding off my mind as he slid into our circular side booth on Andy's side.

I could see had taken out her large, poisoned dagger and was getting ready to shank him, even as I said quietly.

"Don't, Andy." 

Ares leaned back in the booth partly sideways with an arm resting on the table as he snorted in amusement. "Yeah, you listen to your babysitter... Little Andromeda, your little pig sticker isn't going to gut me after all."

I still smiled thinly as I said idly. "Yes, but the hydra venom will sting like a bitch even for you. For a good while." 

Ares gave me an actual smile as he said. "You... I like you kid, if you were one of my brats. I would have granted you an army to help your goals of conquest haha."

He paused before looking at me and asking more seriously. "Actually... How about it brat? Wanna be my champion? Conquer the world in my name, and I can grant you a whole shit load of boons, and I can keep some annoying cunts off your back and keep them from cursing you for petty shit."

I shook my head and then said calmly. "I appreciate your respect, Lord Ares. But the blood I, and my own followers spill will be done in my own name, glory, and ambitions."

There was a pause as Ares leaned in a bit. And he looked at me with a hard glare past those shades. I could even feel his domain of War trying to make me bend the knee on the more subtle side.

Before Andy, with actual anger in her voice, snapped out. "What do you want from us?!"

Ares snorted as he leaned back, the perfect picture of leisure, as he chuckled and said lazily. "Ehh, I saw you two little shits out here and thought... Hey, these two little fuck ups are going to try to get into the Underworld. So why don't I give them a little quest? If they succeed, they get a little boon to help them. If they fail..."

He drew off with a cruel grin crossing his face as he said with finality. "Well... Then they get the express trip to the Underworld anyway." 

I slowly nodded even as I carefully laid a hand on Andy's knee to soothe her state as she looked more than ready to stab Ares at this point.

"What is your quest, Lord Ares?" I asked calmly.

As treating this notoriously volatile War God with basic respect woudn't cost me anything, of course.

Ares made a lip-smacking noise as he looked around and said with a bored tone. "There is a little present my... A friend left behind when she had some business to take care of at that hotel over there. Go to room 13-13, the token will be right on the bed. Get it for me, bring it back, and you little shits can be on your jolly way." 

Andy didn't even wait a second to snap out, with my face twitching at her clear disrespect. "Why can't you just go get the damned thing!? Can't you just pop in and do it?"

There was a heavy silence as Ares slowly pulled down his shades. Which displayed purple flames that filled my vision with horrible pictures of warfare and monstrous actions done in the name of conquest, before I pushed back the invasion of my mind as he said slowly.

"Because, you little shit. You are a demigod, and your kind does what you're told by your gods... Now be a good little demigod, and go fetch before I turn you into a rabbit that Artemis will hunt. Or maybe even Athena may turn you into a pelt for one of her pet projects; she hates your pops enough to fuck with him." 

I squeezed Andy's thigh in warning as she inhaled, and she relaxed as she felt my squeeze. Then she merely gave my side a nudge before we pulled out of the booth, and we wordlessly left the dinner.

After we left and crossed the street to get to that hotel, Andy hissed like a cat whose tail got stepped on, with her whole body tensing as she fought down a frustrated scream of frustration.

Then after a loooong breath. She exhaled heavily before she looked to me and said coolly. "Let's go, Jake... I bet this hotel is fucking haunted or something." 

And looking at the hotel in particular. I paused at its name. 'Sarpedon Hotel... That isn't some Holiday Inn. Let me guess, a monster has claimed it and is using it to have a steady supply of mortal flesh to eat?' I mused thoughtfully.

Though, to be honest. The name Sarpedon didn't mean anything to me.

Still, I said firmly. "It is assuredly a trap. But we have little choice but to walk into it. Just keep on your toes."

We walked into the hotel and as we walked into the hotel my face twitched as my system warned me. [User has entered the, Temple of Medusa- All water manipulation abilities are weakened by half by users below lvl 200. Magic resistance is lowered to all targets within the dungeon by thirty percent for all below lvl 200]

'Ah... Fuuuuuck!' I mentally screamed as I looked to the fucking unaware child of Poseidon, who didn't know we were walking into a temple that belonged to a monster/lesser goddess that her good old pappie defiled and got into a horrible monster.

And the worst part was... Andy and I had already run into Medusa before!

When I first took Andy to Camp Half-Blood, Medusa and a bunch of other high-level monsters were chasing us before I shamelessly called out Granny Rhea, who teleported them away.

And I knew I couldn't call Rhea again to solve my problems... She was a goddess, not a mortal mother who would just sigh before wiping my ass to clean up my problems. She WOULD just ignore my ass if I cried out to her to solve my problems.

So with a sigh, I looked past the empty entryway to the beautiful 'woman' working the front desk and said helplessly. "Whelp, time to face the music." 

"What do you mean?" Andy asked in confusion, but I just shook my head as we made our way to the front of the hotel where I already scanned the 'woman' working.

[Medusa- Lvl 145] 

She was just a little stronger than that extremely weakened titan Andy, whom I just killed. And to boot, she didn't have true divinity and Authority. She was still a monster who was fated to die by heroes.

So with a hum, I met her gaze past her thick glasses that were obviously enchanted, though I noticed the enchanted necklace on her neck that, with a quick scan, also revealed that it sealed her snake hair.

"Hello again... We are here to get something that Lord Ares left in his room, in room 13-13."

Medusa's cold expression turned even more chilled as put on a frigid smile as she said flatly. "The hotel only goes up to twelve floors... Lord Ares was on the ninth floor anyway. So, why shoudn't I tear you both apart, sup on that little sea god spawn's bone marrow, and make your twisted remains into a new modern art sculpture?"

At this point. Andy was well used to me taking the lead as she also quickly realized that this woman was a monster, or at least a threat. Even if she hadn't taken on her true Gorgon form yet.

I actually grinned, and Medusa faltered at my grin as I leaned in slightly and asked quietly. "Can you? Can you actually keep up that threat? We are a quest to find the stolen icon of power for one of the Olympians... Do you really... Really want to meddle in such a fated quest?" 

Medusa's furious expression, her desire to rip us apart, and her hatred for Andy's bloodline. Took a very sharp instant flip as she heard the last bit.

And she was an old monster; she knew I wasn't lying to her. But then her face paled as she said in horror. "They... They left one of their icons of power in my hotel!?" 

I almost coudn't help but burst in laughter at the thought of Ares and Aphrodite leaving their icons of power here in the hotel room after fucking and leaving.

But I just shrugged and played it up as I said helplessly. "Medusa, this demigod I am guiding is just a tool of the gods. If you do kill us, and it won't be easy, and you WILL bleed for it. What happens when more demigods come in droves? What happens when the love and war gods come back for their stuff directly and flatten you into Tartarus?" 

She tsked before pausing as she looked at me more fully before she paled as she backstepped as she said in fear. "You are a Godslayer! You made a god fade into oblivion after slaying them!"

To which I merely smiled thinly and said quietly. "As I said, Medusa... We are on an important quest. Do you want to be involved in this?"

Medusa didn't need to consider the stupid question. In but a couple of moments she reached into the desk and tossed me a key before she hissed out. "Get their icons and get out of my hotel! I don't want to be banished to Tartarus and get between the battles of gods again!"

There was some real anger in her voice right there. But Medusa of all monsters had the right to say that she didn't deserve to be put between the two rocks that were divines throwing about their powers.

'It's a pity she doesn't have the Fate, Medusa's personality... But then again, she wasn't kept on the Throne of Heroes and had her sanity fixed as Servants.' I mused thoughtfully before shrugging.

I pulled Andy aside, and we went for the elevator with Andy speaking quietly as we moved up towards the floor in question. "Any other scorned women I should worry about with my... Father's antics back in the day?" 

I smiled helplessly as I said with a wry grin. "Your father was a wild stallion back in the day Andy. To say nothing of his actual wife and queen of Atlantis, he was also married to the Olympian of harvest for a short amount of time before he got uhhh bored of her. Then there is his feuds with the goddess of wisdom, and so much else." 

Although having the bloodline of the three strongest gods of the Greek Pantheon opened you up to the ability to be strong, with a clear path. Yeah, it still painted a massive target on your back for the rest of the Pantheon and world to come kill you.

Andy sagged a bit in annoyance at my words but she visibly took a deep breath as we reached the door leading to where Ares and presumably Aphrodite was staying.

And with a click, I unlocked the door with a fresh scent of citrus and fruit hitting my nose as we walked into the well-decorated but rather standard hotel room.

"That... Has to be it right?" Andy said with a dry voice as we looked at the bed to see a 'band' made out of two shining gold seashells and a golden silk binder that was see-through because of how delicate it was.

As Andy approached it I said quickly. "Wait stop!"

She paused hurriedly as I said flatly. "That is... One of the love goddesses' items of power. The Girdle of Aphrodite." 

As I said her name, I felt soft fingers caressing my hip as a pressure of heavy and full breasts pushed against my back before a husky exhale of hot air tickled my ears.

Just as I was about to whirl around, a cock stirring giggle filled my mind before the sensation faded as the goddess of love left us alone... And didn't molest us further.

As even Andy was holding her full breasts with a heavy flush, it was obvious that Aphrodite gave her a little pinch as she left.

My face twitched as I said helplessly. "As we all said... Saying the name of god is inviting their attention. I forgot in the heat of the moment."

I shook my head before refocusing on the girdle, and I carefully put on an enchanted silk glove that had several runes of isolation, sealing, and other such things sowed onto it.

So that the divine energy... And curses tied to that damned thing woudn't affect me. But as I picked up the girdle to put it away in a silk bag with more seals to transport it.

I felt Rhea's aura fall onto me. But in a very restricted way, with her whispering into my mind.

"Do not react, my champion... Listen to me very closely, my darling." 

Even as Andy pulled my arm to leave, she said in annoyance. "Not even a fucking mint on the table to steal. And what was that weird golden stain in front of the chair in the corner of the room?"

But I was more focused on Rhea as she whispered to me. "Jake, Ares is being controlled by someone outside of the Greek Pantheon. You have to expect more resistance than just whatever game Hades is going to put on you. Be wary, as the Timekeeper has reached outwards and brought aid."

My face twitched at that before I wondered what the hell she meant before it hit me like a brick to the mind. 'Fucking Khaos Brigade.'

And my thoughts skidded around as I considered a fact. If Kronos helped Arthur, who could control Fenrir with Excalibur Ruler without too much trouble. Could he take over even subtly control Ares even further then he was in canon?

Honestly, my thoughts were very much leaning towards 'Yes!' But I had to hope that wasn't the case. 

Otherwise... If Khaos Brigades goal was to steal both Hades and Zeus's symbols of power, and they came in force to claim them?

Yeah, we were utterly fucking turbo-screwed to oblivion.

I then collected my mental energy as I asked quietly. 'Do you know who is involved?'

There was a pause with Rhea clearly in thought before she mentally transmitted. "I really... Really can't say directly. Their fates are protected by other Pantheons and forces, and guiding you too much will make me face a terrible backlash. All I can say, is that they are blond, and both use swords... VERY heavily."

My face pinched as I had a fairly decent idea of who was involved, as Khaos Brigade didn't have too many blondes who used swords. And were strong enough to be involved in this game of stolen divine icons.