Chapter 10: Minotaur's Brutal End(Edited)
Mark led Percy and Grover to his pickup and entered the driver's seat. He honestly was not very thrilled about this whole thing. However, Poseidon was a god and despite Mark's willingness to use the Juggernaut Drive to fight him, he was one of a pantheon.
As such, Mark decided to accept the mission as he would still get something out of it. If he was ordered to do it without pay, he would have gone ahead and used the Juggernaut Drive anyway.
For now, he put his attention back on Grover and Percy.
"Get in the back, both of you."
They did not push back much as they got inside the truck. Mark turned on the truck with magic as he did not have a key to this stolen truck. Once he was inside, he drove and stepped on the ignition. He began to drive toward the location of Camp Halfblood. Poseidon was smart enough to tell him where it was and he used his authority to give Mark access inside.
Once Mark began to drive off, Percy spoke up. He needed to make sure what Mark and his weird gauntlet said was true.
"Hey, can we get back to before? You said I was the son of Poseidon, but how? My mom always told me that he died at sea. Why would she say otherwise? Also, why did you save me or follow me?"
Mark reached up and moved his rearview mirror to look at Percy.
"Let's start with that, shall we? Have you ever read anything on Greek myth?"
Percy nodded.
"Yes, it is a course in my school, but I can't really read all too well. I am dyslexic and I have ADHD so I struggle to focus in class or the books."
Mark did not mind.
"Well, then you know just how horny Zeus, Poseidon, and the other Greek gods are. They often sire many kids with women they find attractive. Seems that your mom was just the latest. You honestly might have a few siblings running around."
Percy instantly felt like crap.
"Oh. Let's change the subject, why did Mr. Brunner call you the Red Dragon Emperor."
Ddraig spoke out from Mark's left hand to answer this question.
[The answer to that question is quite simple. The Red Dragon Emperor was my title in life. Now, it is shared by those who host me, The Welsh Dragon, also known as the Dragon of Domination. I am Ddraig like I said before.]
Grover instantly spoke up.
"What does that even mean? I mean, I haven't heard any stories of you in Greek myth. I am not the smartest, but there is no mention of a Red Dragon Emperor or anything. Are you erased history or something?"
Mark laughed.
"Let me ask you this, what makes you think the Greek gods are the only gods?"
Grover felt like his worldview was going to crack.
"What do you mean? The Greek gods are the gods."
Mark shook his head.
"You are dead wrong. The world is not ruled by the Greek gods alone. Every sphere of influence has its own gods. A big part of Asia is ruled by the Hindu gods who are the true strongest gods around. Of course, then there are the dragons.
The true strongest beings in this world. Even gods fall when a dragon rages."
Mark's slit eyes began to glow a bright green, but he closed his eyes and calmed them down.
"Now, I am taking you straight to Camp Half-Blood under the order of your father. Depending on some things, I might stick around or just complete my mission. He said the more I do the more I get paid."
Percy looked down.
"If my father is a god, why was he not there? Does he just not care and just made me and booked it."
[It's the rules of being divine. The gods cannot be around their mortal children even if they wanted to. Your father must have kept you well guarded at the very least. Enough that he decided to hire someone like us.]
Percy asked a question.
"What about my mom?"
Mark paused at this.
"What about her?"
Percy asked.
"Can we stop by her home first? I want to ask her if she knew."
Mark shrugged.
"Sure. Where does she live? I will charge your dad extra for keeping his sidepiece safe."
Percy was going to raise his voice, but Maulketh squinted his eyes causing him to think twice about doing that. When Mark got to the location he turned his truck around and started driving. For the rest of the ride, both Grover and Percy asked more questions which Mark answered to pass the time. When they finally arrived at her home, Mark parked out in front.
"We're here."
The three of them stepped out, but Mark looked to the sky. The whole sky was covered in black storm clouds and lightning was rumbling. He turned to Percy and pointed at the sky.
"See? That is what happens when gods get mad."
Percy shivered as they went up the apartment steps. When they arrived at his apartment and walked inside Mark was met with a foul smell. Percy did not say his stepdad smelled like filth. The man was playing poker with his friends and before he spoke Mark waved his hand and put them all to sleep.
Seeing that made Percy happy.
"He is alive right?"
"Yeah, I just put them to sleep. Though, he smells like shit."
Percy nodded.
"I call him smelly Gabe."
Mark walked in and sat on the relatively clean couch. The apartment was very small and reminded Mark why he preferred living in houses.
"My goodness, I feel bad for you."
Percy sighed.
"I think that is fair. But I have a question. Why is the Red Dragon Empoer sealed inside a gauntlet? Is he trapped or something? And how strong was he when he was alive?"
Mark raised his left arm and summoned the Boosted Gear.
"This is a Sacred Gear, but more importantly a Longinous. To specify, Sacred Gears are special items that were created and gifted to mankind by the God of the Bible. Meaning, yes, Angels, Devils, and Fallen Angels are real.
But God especially made 13 special Sacred Gears called Longinous. The Gears with the power to slay gods. I just so happened to have the Boosted Gear, which gives the user the power of Ddraig, the dragon sealed inside.
At his peak, Ddraig was in the top 10 strongest beings on this planet. He could have destroyed the whole world many times over if he so wished. Someone like Zeus would have been nothing more than an ant to be squashed."
Hearing this made Percy and Grover feel like they just learned something. Grover was curious about something.
"So, only humans can get these? Seems unfair."
Mark shook his head.
"Actually, hybrids of humans can also have them. I am not sure about Demigods, but I don't see why not. As for you Percy, you don't have one. Ddraig would have been able to smell it out. As for it being unfair, humans are very weak on their own.
To ensure our safety, God made Sacred Gears to give mankind a chance to fight back against the supernatural. Of course, I am not one of you."
Percy was about to ask about it, but the front door opened and Percy's mother walked in. She looked tired coming back from her job, but she perked up when she saw Percy.
"Percy?"
"MOM!"
Both of them rushed to hug each other as they had not seen each other for almost 6 months as Percy lived in a dorm. Mark did not interrupt them as he reached into Gabe's pocket and stole his cigarettes.
He also took any cash he had on him. He popped one into his mouth and lit it up with Dragon Fire. He took a long drag before he exhaled out his nose.
"Ah, that takes me back."
His speaking caused Sally to look at him.
"Percy, who is your friend?"
Percy looked down.
"Mom, I know."
She did not understand at first.
"Know what?"
"Mom, I, know."
Hearing that made Sally sigh as she sat down on a spare chair. She was curious as to what was wrong with Gabe and his friends though. Before she said anything Mark grabbed his cigarette and extinguished it in the ashtray.
He decided to explain himself.
"Miss, I am Mark. I am someone Poseidon ordered to deliver his son to Camp Half-Blood. Do you know why and what kind of danger your son is in?"
She shook her head.
"I know it's what happens to demigods, but why now of all times? He has always been watching Percy, but why act now? What danger is my son in?"
Percy told her a portion of what Mark told him.
"Apparently, Zeus had his lightning bolt stolen and he is accusing my father that he did it. My father is mad that he is being called a thief and demands an apology from Zeus. If they do not get their way they will declare war."
[And you do not want to see a war on Biblical proportions.]
Sally turned to Mark's hand where the Boosted Gear appeared. She has questions, but she nodded.
"What do we need to do?"
"I will take Percy to the Camp and you will probably have to stick around me for a while. I live not far from Percy's school. It probably won't be forever, but you might not see your son for a good while. But, as Poseidon is hiring me I want to do this right. So, let's move."
Mark left the apartment, but he tossed Gave's cigarettes back on the table. He had already quit smoking when he was 30 and while he was not human, it was not a good habit. Percy, Grover, and Sally all followed Mark down.
When they got out, Mark was about to go into his black pickup when he saw something. A black East 1978 Camero made him stop by.
"Ddraig, remind me to come to steal that."
[Got it."]
Sally spoke about it.
"That is Gabe's car, take it if you want."
Mark nodded.
"I sure will. That fat bastard does not deserve such a car."
Once the three people were in his truck Mark drove off. He looked to the sky and saw that a hurricane was stirring making him curse.
"Fucking gods."
Sally looked behind Percy and Grover.
"I did not want to send you to Camp Percy. I would not see you again for a long time and I could not do it. I put you in danger because of it. As a Demigod, you attract monsters to you, and the camp was where they are sent to keep them safe."
Percy looked at his mom and held her hand.
"Mom, you did your best."
Mark nodded.
"Not much you could do, but for now once I leave Percy at the camp, I will leave you with a close friend. She will ensure your safety and then I will return to the camp. I will keep an eye on Percy for a time before I leave."
Sally nodded.
"I got it."
Mark drove out of the city toward North Long Island out in the country. Rain and hail were hitting the truck constantly as the hurricane was nearing in. Grover shivered at each lightning bolt.
"Scared Satyr?"
Grover looked into the rearview mirror and saw Mark looking at him.
"Lord Zeus is mad. Very mad and each lightning bolt could be him killing us."
[You three maybe. We will survive.]
Sally finally had enough of the talking hand.
"Ok, what is that thing?"
[Just a thing? I am so much more than a thing. I am Ddraig, the Welsh Dragon.]
She did not look convinced.
"Really?"
[Mark, a little help here?]
"He is my friend Ddraig. His body was destroyed in battle and he is only a soul at the moment. I plan to bring him back to life one day though-"
Mark suddenly hit the brakes and swerved to the side of the road. Everyone in the car had to hold on as Mark gave no warning. Suddenly, a giant shadow rushed through where Mark's truck was about to drive through.
Once the truck came to a stop, Mark opened the door before he looked at his passengers.
"Do not step out for any reason."
He closed the door and walked out and looked at the giant minotaur that was walking toward him. It was easily 20 feet tall(6 meters) and covered in thick muscle. In its hands was a giant black sword.
Mark walked forward without bringing out the Boosted Gear. His Dragon Heart began to beat with power that even Sally, Grover, and Percy could hear even though Mark was already a distance away.
The Minotaur roared as it charged toward Mark. It swung its sword down on him but he reached up and caught the blade with his bare hand. The beast looked down wondering why its blade was not moving.
The beast felt its soul go cold when it saw its blade caught. Mark grinned before he snapped the blade in half. He lept in the air and grabbed its right horn. He kicked off the air and using the horn brought it to the ground face-first.
Mark stepped on its head and grabbed its huge horn with both hands.
"Here, take it back."
With a roar, Mark broke its horn before stabbing it into the beast's open mouth. The horn pierced through its head leaving the beast dead. Minotaurs were a species native to the Underworld, but this one was unique. It was the very first, the progenitor of the race.
This is another sin of Poseidon as King Minos once received a white bull from Poseidon as proof of his support of Minos. Poseidon wanted the bull sacrificed back to him, but when Minos refused, Poseidon cursed his wife to lust for the bull.
This monster that he slayed was the child that resulted in the wife mating with the bull reminding him of why the gods were evil and deserved to die. And he would one day punish the gods for their sins.
[Well done partner.]
'Thanks.'
Mark watched as the beast at his feet turned to dust, but it left the broken horn. He picked it up and decided to toss it in his truck bed. Once this was done he got back in the truck and drove off. He was met with silence, but they were too shocked to speak for the moment.
He grinned as he quite liked the looks of awe on their faces.
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