PERASTOS

"It's done?", Athos asked somewhat surprised. He'd never really understood Gods and their powers. If Hephaestus was really that powerful, why couldn't he just snap the armour into existence? Or why couldn't other Gods just learn blacksmithing? For instance, what stopped a God such as Athena from becoming a blacksmithing Goddess? Was it just pride or were there some restrictions on their divinity? Perhaps the faith of the mortals that the Gods fed on and relished also acted as chains, preventing them from digressing from their path. Ironic.

"Why sound so surprised? Would've taken a lot less time if it weren't for the self-healing part", Hephaestus muttered and flicked a finger, grumbling about ungrateful demigods under his breath.

He vanished from the room's far end and appeared in front of Athos in a swirl of flames, holding a floating ball of liquid metal that looked like a bronze-Gold alloy. It was sloshing about in a ball of air, looking oddly similar to a symbiote.

"That's my armour?", Athos asked, intrigued. Of all the things he imagined his armour would look like, this wasn't one of them. It was...well, unique.

"Humph! You half-bloods are Philistines! The entire lot of you! But I can't expect much from sword-wielding maniacs, can I? Now try it on before I change my mind", Hephaestus frowned.

Athos nodded and reached for his armour, his hand going right through the metal blob, his fingers now coated with liquid metal. It felt cool to touch and felt oddly...alive. It reacted to his presence with curiosity, crawling up his arm and completely engulfing his body from the neck down.

"It's quite lively. I'll tell you that much", Hephaestus chuckled, looking at a bewildered and partly golden Athos. The living metal flowed up and down Athos' body before stopping and giving out a slight hum.

That very moment, a faint connection formed in his mind, binding him to his armour. It was something similar to the Oni mask he had, feeling akin to another limb. If he focused, he could feel the connection he had with it. He could order it to take almost any form of clothing he wanted. He could even feel it telling him something....something that sounded like a name...

"Perastos", he whispered, and the metal hummed again in acknowledgement. It was the name it had given itself the moment it was 'born', and it was the name it would have. It wiggled around a bit before absorbing Athos' clothes and taking its place. It looked the very same, just a lot cleaner.

"Whoa!", Athos exclaimed in wonder as he felt his black shirt minus all the dirt. It felt just as smooth and flexible as before.

"Here. Try stabbing yourself", Hephaestus said, tossing him a bronze knife.

He promptly caught it and complied, bringing it down on his sleeve.

*CLANG*

The sound of metal hitting metal rang out, shocking him even more. Hephaestus really outdid himself, or perhaps this was nothing special to him. You never knew with Gods.

He threw away the dagger and closed his eyes, focusing on the connection he had with Perastos. A few seconds later, his black shirt and grey pants morphed into a sleek, two-piece, slim-fit suit with Oxfords. The suit was black, while the shirt and tie were an electric blue, similar to his ring and eyes. Even his watch transmuted to fit the aesthetic. His wish to go walk around like John wick had come true after all, and he didn't need to slay the Nemean Lion either.

He marvelled at how comfortable Perastos made anything he wore and coupled with the Oni mask, he would now be able to slay monsters in style. Nanami would be proud.

"Taking after your grandfather eh? Wouldn't be my first choice though. A jumpsuit's always practical", Hephaestus said, rubbing his chin. Zeus, that sanctimonious idiot, also preferred wearing suits, although one that was a darker blue and was pinstriped.

"Not exactly, but....yeah. Anyway, thanks for everything. I'll make sure to sacrifice a part of my food the next time I eat", Athos replied, giving the God before him a slight bow. Hephaestus deserved it as he was one of the few decent Gods out there, and perhaps the only decent Olympian. He had no obligation to give him anything, even if he had saved his children. He was a God after all. He could do what he wanted when he wanted. Quests did not always end up with one finding treasure. Mostly just pain and death.

"Heh!", Hephaestus snorted. "You're an odd one. Most half-bloods I've met were quite annoying. Thought the world owed them something. Heads so high up in the clouds that even Zeus could accidentally step on them. You're different. Your pride is through the roof, yet it does not drive you...You want something, don't you...You have a goal."

"I don't believe the world owes anyone anything", Athos replied, ignoring the God's last statement.

"That's what they all said. Perhaps you'll end up like them, in a monster's stomach, but I have a feeling that tells me otherwise. Hmmm, you'll be useful. Here, catch", Hephaestus grunted, throwing Bob, the mechanical spider, at Athos.

"Hold on to that. I've got an issue that's been bothering me for a few weeks. Consider it your lucky day when I call for you if it gets too annoying or if my automatons don't work."

"I'll keep Bob safe", Athos nodded, tucking Bob away in his watch and hiding his grin. He would always welcome a quest from the blacksmith God for if the rewards he would receive were anything like Perastos, it would easily be worth it. But how could he, a mortal take care of an issue that a God couldn't solve? Did Hephaestus find it beneath him, or was he just too lazy?

"Now off you go. Try to stay in one piece. My armour can only do so much. Humans are much more fragile than automatons", Hephaestus said, creating a firey portal next to him.

With another slight bow, Athos walked into the portal. He was finally fully geared up, and it was time to get the cornucopia that he had to give Nereus. He was itching to know what exactly he needed to become a God.

***

Athos took a deep breath, enjoying the fresh air around him. He was back at the clearing where he first entered that dreaded maze. It was a welcome change from the musty smell that pervaded the entirety of the Labyrinth. Who knew how many poor souls had met their end there?

He summoned the Oni mask in its half-blue mode, which further strengthened his defence and resilience, and after adjusting his tie, brought out the golden coin his father gave him. Achelous, the God whose horn was the cornucopia, resided on the very same island he'd been brought up in. His presence there was probably the reason Herakles refused to let Athos wander too far into the forest. The river God wouldn't take too kindly to anyone related to Herakles.

He twirled the coin in his hand, trying to find anything he could use to activate it.

'Didn't father mention it having to charg-

But before he could so much as finish his thought, the coin started to glow a bright gold.

"What? I thou-"

*TING*

The coin cut him off once again and engulfed him in a quick burst of light, leaving behind a patch of slightly singed grass.