The Earth Monarch

Chapter 52: Employed

"Percy, Hazel. Go inside and find Thanatos. Frank and I will wrap things up here," I ordered, never taking my gaze off the giant. Without hesitation, Percy nodded seriously and led Hazel inside.

"I was told he would not remember you," Alcyoneus grumbled. "Right Gorgon Blood. Amnesia is not immune to its healing properties," I replied smoothly. "Hmm. And what is your plan, Earth King? This land is far larger than that pathetic island the first time," Alcyoneus questioned.

"And I'm far stronger than I was in the first war, Alcyoneus. It may be a struggle to carry you off your birth land...for a mortal, at best. But for me, I could kill you permanently in a slumber as deep as Gaea," I retorted, grinning sadistically at him.

"Then do it. I'm not afraid of your theatrics, Perseus. Honestly, I'm a lot more...underwhelmed than our last encounter," he spat, grinning like he won the lottery.

"You think you've bested me? That you've seen through an illusion, a play to make your surrender? You think you've persevered against me, believing me to be all bark and no bite?" I questioned, each sentence lowering the mood of the eldest giant.

"You are mistaken," I whispered in his ear. "Frank. Go assist the others, I would like to have a...private conversation with our host," I called, dispersing the wall and tower. He cautiously walked past me, glancing back warily.

In a flash of movement, my hand released his ear only to grab his throat. "What do you say we take this somewhere more interesting?" I asked. He gulped, and attempted to reach for a weapon to escape.

My eyes glowed with power, and I launched high into the air. A sonic boom sounded immediately after I stopped touching the ground. Alcyoneus roared in agony, as the air ripped apart his golden flesh. In only a few seconds, I stopped to a hover. My passenger was thrown around in my grip from the whiplash.

From where we hovered, you could clearly see the whole of North America, higher than orbital view. "Welcome to the far reaches of my domain, Alcyoneus. This is the furthest point of the Exosphere. If I let you go, you could just stay floating here for the rest of your days, orbiting the planet until someone tries to save you. Falling from this height, you might survive, if you land in Alaska," I explained.

He gurgled and gasped in my grip, writhing in pain. "Ah, you must be wondering. That would be your lungs collapsing from the vacuum. Your body slowly shutting down from the lack of oxygen. And because you're a deity, it could take weeks before you come to the point of reformation. But with the cold, and your metallic body, you'll begin to freeze. You wouldn't reform until you're reheated," I added, smirking at the torment.

"Puh...Lee......" he struggled out, convulsing from his torture. "Very well, Alcyoneus. I won't kill you like this. That leaves one other punishment," I answered.

Looked down, and we began to fall. We already exceeded the speed of our ascent, and we were engulfed in multicolored flames. As we neared the surface, Alcyoneus started to grow brighter and happier. It quickly turned into horror, as we didn't slow down.

The ground grew closer, but there wasn't a crash. I chuckled at the frightened expression on his face, as we fell straight through the earth like it was air. "What is this? You're taking me to my father's realm?" He questioned, confused.

"No. The Pit is on another plane of existence. It has entrances to many dimensions of this universe, connecting all underworlds into a single realm of death and despair. To access such a realm, you would need a high concentration of mystical energy to travel to the hellish landscape. However, without such mysticism...have you ever studied Geology?" I asked.

"Geology? You mean..." he questioned in confusion, which quickly became realization. Good timing too, as the ground around us started turning red from heat. "Volcanoes, Earthquakes. They can be manipulated by us immortals, but they are still primordial forces that act with a figurative sentience. The mantle produces the liquid stone that melts the flesh and cooks the tendons. The plates shift on the ocean of magma, causing quakes to rattle buildings, and crushes hundreds," I explained, ignoring the growing screams of agony.

We plunged out of the crust, and floated in the superheated ocean of red. "Here, enjoy the view," I said cheerily, gently pushing Alcyoneus away. Without me touching him, his condition worsened tenfold. His limbs started to shrivel, melting into the mantle. His screams died out, as his lungs and throat were flooded with liquid rock. His oil (blood) poured out, evaporating in the heat.

I willed myself over, and grabbed his chin. His condition got better, but was still pretty bad. "I'll give you a choice, Alcyoneus. 1. You can choose Gaea, and remain in the mantle until I'm feeling sympathetic. 2. You can choose Gaea, and remain high in orbit, frozen until you are saved. Or 3. You can choose me, and live out your days in peace and solitude, imprisoned on one of my islands for eternity," I stated.

He weakly looked at me, gasping for breath. "What...do I have...to do, Lord...Perseus?" He asked, bowing to the best of his ability. "Swear your loyalty to me on the name of Void, the King of the Faded," I answered simply.

"I...Alcyoneus, swear my all...allegiance to Perseus...the Earth King. I swear it upon Lord...Void, King of the Faded," he panted out. He then yelled in pain, as a mark was burned onto his forehead. My tower shield with 2 crossed halberds, on top the digital globe symbol.

"Get yourself healed," I ordered, teleporting him away. I snapped my fingers, changing his birth land to the island I sent him to; The Zoo.

I sent a pulse out around Earth, searching for the party, and teleported to them by melting into the crust.