The mischievous gamer God

Percy, Annabeth, and Grover stood inside the abandoned water park—uncreatively named Water Land. The trio had been forced to take a detour to retrieve Ares' shield, which they eventually found resting ominously on one of the swan-shaped boats in the Tunnel of Love.

Annabeth's gray eyes widened in realization, but too late. "Wait—Percy, don't!" she blurted out as she spotted the near-invisible tripwire.

But it was already done.

The moment Percy's fingers closed around the shield's handle, the wire snapped with a faint ping. Almost instantly, a chilling mechanical whirring echoed throughout the ride as hundreds of large, black, metallic spiders emerged from the dark walls and ceiling, their glowing red eyes fixing on the two demigods.

"Uhh… not good," Percy muttered, tightening his grip on the shield as he instinctively stepped in front of Annabeth.

As the spiderbots closed in, Percy suddenly felt his backpack heat up against his back. Confused but desperate, he yanked it off and unzipped it, reaching inside. His hand brushed against a glowing figure—another one of the strange toys from the leather case.

He pulled it out.

It was a tiny, mouse-like creature with bright yellow fur, red circular patches on its cheeks, brown stripes down its back, long pointed ears with black tips, and a jagged, lightning bolt-shaped tail.

The figure pulsed, grew, and in a flash of golden light, Pikachu stood on the boat deck, full-sized and ready.

The little Pokémon crouched low, electricity sparking off its cheeks. With a sharp, determined cry, it leapt high into the air.

"Pikachuuuuuuu!!"

A powerful Thunderbolt shot out in every direction, crackling with intense energy. The electric surge blasted through the tunnel, frying the mechanical spiders instantly. Sparks flew, circuits burst, and the entire ride was plunged into darkness as the surrounding electronics shorted out. A few smoldering spider limbs twitched on the ground before falling still.

Pikachu landed gracefully between Percy and Annabeth, cheeks still smoking with leftover static. It turned to face them both and cheerfully exclaimed, "Pika pi!"

Annabeth's breathing was still shaky, her heart pounding in her chest, but the worst had passed. Her gaze softened at the sight of the little electric mouse, and with a small, grateful smile, she scooped him up into her arms and held him close.

Percy's eyes widened in alarm. "Annabeth—wait! He might shock you!"

But instead of static or electrocution, Pikachu nestled warmly against her chest, perfectly content and calm.

"Huh," Percy said, scratching the back of his head as he glanced between her and the Pokémon. "Guess he doesn't mind."

With the shield secured and the danger passed, the trio climbed out of the now-dark and empty pool.

Still holding Pikachu, Annabeth gave a relieved sigh. Percy, walking beside her with the shield slung over his back, looked at the yellow mouse and muttered, "I wonder why the little guy hasn't disappeared yet like the others…"

"Pika Pikachu," the Pokémon chirped.

Grover blinked, his ears twitching slightly as he turned to face Percy and Annabeth. "Okay… not sure how I understood that, but I think he just said that unlike the others, he doesn't have a time limit."

The satyr scratched his head in confusion. "Apparently he's Lord Apollo's pet? Wait—how the heck did he get a Pikachu?"

(Flashback)

Inside Tet's room, Apollo—the ever-charismatic god of the sun, music, and poetry—was currently sprawled dramatically on the floor, clutching the ankle of a very unimpressed-looking Tet.

"Please! I'll take care of it! I'll love it forever! Just let me have one!" Apollo whined with genuine, childlike desperation.

Tet, the One True God , deadpanned, "No. I'm not giving you a Pikachu."

"But you gave Aunt Hestia a Vulpix!" Apollo argued, his eyes wide with betrayal.

"I told her not to tell anyone," Tet snapped, sighing and crossing his arms. "Because I knew this would happen."

Apollo gave him the biggest puppy-dog eyes he could muster.

Tet groaned. "Fine… but only if you keep it quiet."

With a flick of his fingers, Tet summoned a Poké Ball-shaped light and materialized a Pikachu out of thin air. The electric mouse blinked up at Apollo with curious eyes.

Apollo lit up like a kid on Christmas morning. "YES!! THANK YOU!!"

He hugged the little guy with a squeal of delight and sprinted out of the room like a golden blur, leaving sparkles in his wake.

Tet, now alone, sighed as he walked back toward his couch.

Just as he sat down, there was a knock on the door.

"…No."

He stood up anyway and opened it.

Standing outside, lined up patiently, were Hermes, Artemis, Hades, and Persephone—each holding out printed pictures of their favorite Pokémon.

Tet stared at them, then let out a long, soul-weary sigh.

(Flashback End)

A few hours later, they delivered Ares his shield. After a tense conversation and Ares begrudgingly giving them the blue bag of supplies, the trio loaded up into the Kindness International Zoo Transport Service.

Upon arriving in Las Vegas, they freed the animals, with Pikachu letting out a powerful Thunderbolt that fried the truck's engine and knocked out the smugglers cold. Sparks still crackled from the wreckage as the trio stumbled away, charred but victorious.

Eventually, they ended up at the infamous Lotus Hotel and Casino. For what felt like a day—or maybe even a week—they lost all sense of time in the hypnotic haze of games, lights, and false paradise. That is, until Pikachu had enough.

With a flash of blinding light, he shocked the three of them awake.

"OWWWWW!" Percy yelled, smoke curling from his clothes as he jerked upright. "That's one of the most painful things I've ever experienced. How did Ash survive this on a regular basis? Was he made of rubber?"

Annabeth groaned, blinking through the static fuzz in her vision. "Is my hair… smoldering?"

Grover, twitching on the floor, muttered in a daze, "No... but I can't feel my fingers..."

After escaping the casino and regaining their senses, the trio continued their journey west toward California. Eventually, they located the entrance to the Underworld—hidden inside Crusty's Mattress Emporium. After dealing with Crusty in a brief but intense scuffle, they discovered the portal behind the shop and descended into the depths below.

Percy approached Charon, the sharply dressed, gloomy ferryman, with what he thought was his most convincing lie, his face set in faux confidence. But before he could speak, Charon adjusted his glasses, gave a knowing smirk, and said:

"Go on through, Percy Jackson. Lord Hades is expecting you."

The trio stiffened, eyes wide in alarm.

"Wait—he knows we're here?" Percy asked.

But Charon simply waved them toward the ferry.

With growing tension, they boarded and began their journey across the Styx. To their surprise, the trip was eerily smooth. Even Cerberus—towering, snarling, and terrifying—let them pass with a low rumble of approval.

The only snag came when they passed the edge of Tartarus. Suddenly, Grover's winged sneakers, the cursed gift from Luke, tried to drag him into the pit. Percy and Annabeth barely pulled him back in time, the dark abyss yawning beneath them.

Finally, they reached the looming obsidian halls of Hades' palace.

Inside, they found the Lord of the Dead himself—robes elegant, shadows dancing at his feet. But instead of a fearsome welcome, he was seated cross-legged on his throne, gently stroking a small, chikarita nestled in his lap.

"Who's the cutest little thing in the world? You are, yes you are," Hades cooed, smiling softly as the creature squeaked.

The trio blinked, dumbfounded.

Then Hades suddenly cleared his throat, snapped upright, and tried to look imposing. "It's not mine. It's my wife's."

"Pika pika," Pikachu said with a smug tone.

Grover translated, still slightly stunned. "That's not true. His wife's Pokémon is a Lucario.""Really? The goddess of springtime has a fighting-type Pokémon? That's weird."

Percy shook his head. " Anyway—not what we're here for, everybody."

Hades let out a tired sigh and waved dismissively. "Yes, yes. On to business. What are you here for, nephew? And don't say you're here for the bolt."

Percy shrugged. "Yeah, actually, I'm here for the bolt. And my mother."

Hades groaned, rubbing his temples. "And I have neither of those things. Your mother is safe—she's with my sister, Hestia. The goddess of the hearth. She was worried someone might try something while me, Zeus, and Poseidon are in a three-way deadlock."

He pointed at the blue bag slung over Percy's shoulder.

"As for the bolt? That's in the bag you got from Ares."

Percy's heart dropped. He opened the bag slowly... and froze.

"Oh crap."

"Yep," Hades said flatly. "Now, if you'd be so kind, return to the surface and retrieve my helmet from my stupid nephew."

He snapped his fingers, and a swirling black portal formed beside him.

"Shoo, shoo."

The trio exchanged glances, then with hesitant shrugs, stepped through.

They emerged on a beach beneath a bruised purple sky. Waiting for them was Ares—tall, muscled, and exuding the simmering rage of a war god barely restrained.

After a brief and aggressive conversation filled with threats, glares, and finger-pointing, Percy stood his ground.

Percy font and defeated Ares Boat . Now Percy stood, ready to challenge the god himself.

But before he could act, he felt the leather case in his bag grow hot again.

He opened it. Only one figure remained—glowing intensely. But instead of a heroic warrior or monster... it just looked like a cartoonish white rubber glove.

Percy blinked, confused. "Seriously?"

Still, the case hadn't let him down yet.

He pulled it out and set it down on the sand.

Ares burst into laughter. "You're going to threaten me with a toy?" He doubled over, howling. "This is too much."

But then the glow intensified.

The light exploded outward.

When it faded, a giant, menacing white glove hovered in the air, fingers twitching like a living creature.

Boss music—intense and orchestral—blared from nowhere.

Ares snarled. "Where the hell is that music coming from?!"

Meanwhile, in Tet's realm…

Hestia and Tet were already sprawled on a couch, eyes glued to a massive screen hovering midair. Bowls of popcorn floated beside them.

Out of nowhere, Apollo and Hermes sprinted into the room—both decked out in football uniforms with the Super Smash Bros. logo emblazoned across them, colored after their favorite Nintendo characters. They dove onto the couch, arms overflowing with snacks.

"Did we miss anything?" Apollo asked breathlessly.

Tet grinned. "Nope. It's just getting started."

Apollo leaned toward Hermes. "You've got a clone on-site recording this, right?"

Hermes flashed a sly grin. "Please. I've got multiple clones recording from every angle."

Artemis appeared without a sound, plopping down next to them and swiping some of Apollo's chips.

"Send me a copy. I might need you to make one of Aphrodite later—when I find a way to put her in a similar situation."

Hermes gave her a mock salute. "Roger that."

Back on the beach…

Ares was still laughing. But now his sword was drawn, and his posture tense.

"Alright," he growled, stalking forward. "Let's do this."

Master Hand flew high into the air at impossible speeds, then came crashing down with a mighty blow, smashing Ares into the sand like a hammer to a nail.

Ares roared, struggling to rise—only for two enormous fingers to press down on him and start drilling him into the beach with brutal force.

He finally staggered to his feet, only to be smacked by a front hand and a backhand in quick succession, launching him into the surf.

As Ares flailed in the shallow waves, Master Hand formed a gun shape and began firing laser beams in rapid-fire bursts, pelting him relentlessly.

While Ares reeled, Master Hand soared as far as the eye could see—then rocketed back like a missile, slamming into the war god with explosive force.

Ares was sent flying into the sky, vanishing into the distance with a faint twinkle.

Master Hand hovered down, casually dropped Hades' helmet at Percy's feet, let loose a deep, echoing laugh, and disappeared in a swirl of glowing particles.

The trio stood in stunned silence, trying—and failing—not to laugh.

Percy finally scooped up the helmet and handed it to the Furies, who had arrived moments earlier.

At Hades' command, the Furies wordlessly handed the trio a set of airplane tickets.

"Zeus won't risk destroying his master bolt," one of them said. "So... you'll be fine."