Alexander:

"What are the fucking odds." I sighed as I looked upon my great uncle.

Satan/Samiel, Lvl?

Title: The Defier

Huh, his name was close to that poison guy's name. Samael I think it was?

"Come now, don't be like that old sport. We haven't even got to know each other yet." Samiel tutted with a wagging finger.

I rolled my eyes, "Blow it out your ass pretty boy."

That just made The Devil laugh, "Oh yes you are of my twin's blood alright. Yes, the more I look at your face the more I can see the faintest hints of her in there. To say nothing of that attitude and the brutality you just showcased."

This guy really sat around and watched the whole fight? I didn't like that. At all. He had just been freed from imprisonment yet he didn't book it at his first chance? Surely he had to have known that the New Satans or his sister would be on their way once whatever alarm system that must have been placed on his prison went off.

"Seriously, what did that poor titan ever do to you?" He asked rhetorically, "Reminds me of when Lucy ripped Jophiel apart with her bare hands."

Jophiel. That was the name of a lesser-known Archangel if I remembered correctly. I'd never really heard about him outside some obscure references in various supernatural history books I had read. I had found it weird that an Archangel of all things didn't have that many mentions, but I think I knew why now.

"That titan is an enemy of Olympus that I was sent to dispatch for infringing upon our territory." I frowned as I made my message clear "Territory that you are currently in as well."

A look of understanding washed over Samiel's face, "Ah I see. So my guess was correct, you are Alexander. My sources did their best to keep me updated during my little house arrest, color me surprised when I found out my sister had a demigod decadent. You've been making waves all over the place from what I'm told about, sport."

"Very cool." I rolled my eyes and began cracking my knuckles, "Now since I apparently wasn't blunt enough in my last statement, let me be clear. You're in Greco-Roman territory. Get the fuck out."

I really should probably stop pissing off powerful divine beings, but some of these mother fuckers just annoyed me to no end.

Samiel sighed in faux sadness, "Come now Alexander, can't a man have a talk with his great nephew? In fact your grandmother and I are so similar in terms of being that I'm probably closer to being your grandfather than grand uncle "genetically" speaking

Yeah, definitely had enough of this.

Michael's power surged through me as I called upon his patronage. Golden holy flames roared as they wreathed themselves around my very being and the feeling of my photokinesis became a never-ending buzz beneath my skin, begging to be unleashed upon the Prince of Darkness himself.

Samiel flinched ever so slightly and I met his eyes with a glare.

"I take it by your reaction that your sources didn't tell you that I'm Michael's champion." I replied with a grin, "Well with that newfound knowledge let me be even clearer: Get your ass out of my land or I'm going to call Michael down here and merge with him. I'm sure he'll be more than happy to beat your ass black and blue for a second time."

That certainly got his attention.

"I see. Yes, that definitely is Michael's power." The prince of lies observed, "Well old sport, you've certainly made the game more interesting than I anticipated."

Oh, I didn't like where this was going.

"But for now I will honor your request." Satan relented with a smile, "After all I'm about to be a busy man. I have some new allies to thank for my freedom, sights to see, and a civil war to plan."

I had a sinking feeling that the Khoas Brigade and Old Satan faction had gotten wind of the fact the current government wanted in on my pantheon's triple alliance and that the devil's being extradited to Olympus for execution where their own members were. Getting a Titan to free Satan must've been their retaliation.

"Have fun getting erased by Sirzechs then." I snorted.

Sirzechs and Ajuka were goddamned monsters. Literally, the only two none gods that I knew of who are in this world's top 10 strongest. To say nothing of the fact that they are above most of the gods who were on the list. It was the reason I was at least courteous with them. As anyone stronger than Indra or Zeus, the two strongest non-primordial gods, had at minimum my respect.

So if Satan wanted to bark up that tree and get that smoke? Not my problem.

"Such little faith Alexander." Satan tutted, "But I guess that is to be expected."

You know it was kinda weird. Michael pretty much had a sorta permanent connection to me. I would've assumed he'd be hauling ass down here as soon as he felt his broth-

A wave of heat rushed over the plains below the stone tower we stood under, catching us both off guard.

"I stand corrected." I muttered.

The storm above us that I had created shattered as the sky lit up with heavenly light. It brought with it a heavy presence that pushed down on both of us and flooded the area with holy energy.

Michael was near.

The flames around me surged with added strength and I saw a sense of fear that must not have been felt in millennia break out of Samiel's face.

"You know Sammy, you might want to leave. One last chance before your older brother hands out a good old-fashioned ass-whooping." I threatened while offering him one last out.

Really I should just stall and help Michael kill him here and now. But that might cause the Biblical Underworld to fall into straight-up civil war again instead of the Old Satan faction simply being passive-aggressive and secretly supporting the Khaos Brigade.

Samiel could act as cocky as he wanted to, but I knew he wasn't going to go straight down to Hell and kick off a civil war immediately. The New Satan's had too many heavy hitters on their side for that.

But that might change if he died now, considering part of the armistice was him being jailed, not killed.

Plus I didn't know how Lucifer and Lilith would react to me killing him. I didn't know either well enough to confirm they wouldn't retaliate and defect for it even if I was Lucy's grandson. The even slight possibility of Rizevim, Lucifer, and Lilith all on the same team together sent shivers down my spine.

Because if Hades could create Super Devils in DXD's cannon with just Lilith's inactive body. What in the fresh hell could they accomplish together with her awake?

There was also the fact that I wasn't trying to glass the state with a fight at that weight level. That's a battle I would try to save for when we are in a different reality like the underworld or one of the heavens.

A magical seal flared to life below my great uncle, "My brother always did know how to ruin my fun. Goodbye for now Alexander, I'll be seeing you soon though."

A flash of light and he was gone.

The heavenly light above faded with his departure and Michael sent me a message through our mental connection. I read it over before shaking my head, "We'll talk in person later. Right now I have to go and try to hold my temper against a very frustrating group of people."

For what was probably the 3rd or 4th time in the last couple of months, I stormed through my portal and straight into Serafall Levithan's office.

Said Satan was currently looking like she was in the middle of a meltdown as she was angrily arguing with several communication spells that floated around her.

"All the seals are gone! That shouldn't even be possible! You, Azazel, our greatest warders, rune-smiths, and even the Dantalion family worked together to make those seals and the fail-safes that came with them. There's no way they should have been able to break them that fast. Much less without us knowing." Serafall hiss in a near panic.

"I know." Ajuka's voice said calmly from his side of the portal, "But they have and now we have a problem."

"Oh, you don't say! Gee, it's almost like you all should have listened to me when I suggested we just kill the bastard." Serafall said with an angry pout.

"I was referring more to the fact that we all saw Alexander there upon his release. Judging by his sword's ability to travel through realms, he should probably be in your office by now if my equations are right." The green-haired super devil corrected.

Levithan looked up and sure enough, her eyes widened as they met my own.

"You're spot on as always Juk." She muttered as she waved her hand, "I'll talk to you all later."

The three spells around her vanished with the hand movement and silence reigned in the office.

"So…" She trailed off with a slightly nervous laugh.

"So." I took a deep breath as I pushed down my anger, "Were any of you at any point going to, oh I don't know… mention that SATAN HIMSELF was being kept within Greco-Roman territory!"

Alright, so some of the anger escaped. But can you blame a guy?

Serafall sighed, "If you want an honest answer? No."

"No?" I repeated in disbelief.

"No." She confirmed, "The whole point of him being placed there was that so no one would ever find him. Few Devils or Fallen were ever told where he was imprisoned and we even let it "leak" that he was imprisoned somewhere far off in the Underworld to throw people off."

That… wasn't actually a bad plan.

"Yeah but- wait, how did you all see me in the area when he was released? I thought the Khaos Brigade and the Titans had everything hidden and all your security shut down?" I questioned upon remembering the fact that Ajuka had said he saw me there.

The Satan of Foreign Affairs looked at me in confusion, "You didn't know? Your whole fight was being broadcasted from Olympus through Hephaestus T.V. Everyone in the supernatural world picked it up. You practically broke Devil Net and DeviTube from sheer traffic and views alone once word broke out. Everyone saw your fight with the titan and your standoff with Satan. That part where you beat the Titans face in? Brutal by the way."

Huh. So that's how they intended to put my name and feats out there. A heads-up that I was going to be on TV would have been nice though. Could have thought up some one-liners or have been a little more flashy.

Wait a damn minute.

My eyebrow raised, "You said they saw my standoff with Samiel as well?"

Serafall nodded, "Yes. I did the whole thing was broadcast."

I sighed, "Serafall, Samiel said out loud during our conversation that I was his grand-nephew and that I was definitely one of his twin sister's descendants. Not that I really care, mind you, but I think anyone with a brain can put together what he's talking about. Didn't Paul and the rest of you higher-up people keep that hush, no? And if they know I'm Lucy's descendant…"

"Then they'll know your sisters are t- shit!" She cursed.

"I've been meaning to ask, why is that a secret from the general public?" I asked, "Surely it's not that big of a deal considering there are at least two other people in the public eye who are Lucy's descendants as well?"

I had yet to meet my uncle and cousin, but I was fine with keeping it that way. Meeting Rizevim would just end up in a fight anyway and I was still a good way off from competing with the power of a Super Devil. Vali meanwhile was just a straight-up battle maniac if I remembered right.

He could be the Red Dragon's problem for all I care.

Serafall took a deep breath to calm herself even as she began to frantically text people on her phone. Most likely in an attempt to have my sisters pulled out of school for now and warn their families, "Because it's part of a "truce" of sorts. Rizevim and your father really never got along. Especially since your father was half-human yet didn't take shit from Rizevim. It pissed Rizevim off to no end that his hybrid brother was a match for him."

I nodded. It made sense, my memories vaguely reminded me that Rizevim was pretty prideful and had high expectations of what a devil should be like.

"Eventually once your father started settling down with his lovers and put a pause on his adventuring, he decided to end his feud with your uncle once and for all, so that his new family would never be put in the crossfire. The deal was that your father would never claim the Lucifer name in public and that they would cut contact completely." Serafall continued, "Which was fine with your father. Paul never used the Lucifer name to begin with anyway. He wanted to make a name for himself without all the baggage, so he always went by his father's family name, Arc."

"Let me guess, he became so powerful and his exploits so legendary that he was given a house?" I ventured a guess before smirking pointedly, "I'm sure the fact he had connections via all the powerful women he was fucking also helped."

"Yep." Serafall confirmed without a hint of shame, "Everyone with very high connections and in leadership positions of the factions knew his origins. But the common folk? Paul spent a lot of time in the human world and other pantheons during his youth and journeys and it's not like your grandmother was telling people she had a child with a human during her retirement. As such there's really not much of a connection when you look at your family on the surface level. Especially since Paul and most of you don't really look like her unless you know what you're looking for."

I nodded, "And it's not like anyone would believe such an asinine theory like that to begin with."

Serafall let out a small laugh as she sat her phone down, "Sometimes the truth is best hidden by how obscene it truly is. I mean really, who would believe the most beautiful and perfect devil in existence, a former archangel who fell because of her hatred for humanity, would willingly fall in love and have a family with one?"

"You know that brings up something else I've always wondered about." I pondered out loud, "It was one of my grandmother's personal knights, a Hell Knight I think? That ultimately killed my dad in an ambush at the airport with a literal army of enslaved demons. But it never made sense to me, why would a knight of my grandmother kill her son? Surely he knew about it."

Serafall shrugged, "Your father and Magdaran had a not-so-friendly rivalry. One that had apparently boiled over and led to the death of your father."

I shrugged as well but inwardly I snorted.

'Bullshit.'

I've had suspensions about that whole incident for years, especially once I learned that no action was taken against Magdaran until Cadius himself killed him. You just didn't kill a man who was the head of a noble house and the lover to beings like Serafall, Gabriel, and some fallen archangel in the Grigori without repercussions. Even if it had been a sanctioned duel. Which it wasn't.

Personally, I had a theory that Paul was just out there enjoying retirement with his harem and doing the occasional adventure under the guise of a false identity. Aside from the three women I mentioned, apparently a half dozen other women were known to have called Arc Manor home when he lived there. Yet I had never met any of them on my rare visits.

So yeah. Maybe he was alive and Serafall was just lying while getting dicked down on weekends. Though even if that was the case, I couldn't really bring myself to care. Literally knew the man for all of a couple hours.

I shrugged, "Apparently indeed. In any case, before I go. Is there any other super-secret devil black site you would like to inform me about?"

"In your territory?" Serafall hummed in thought, "None that I know about."

"That's reassuring." I muttered as I slashed a hole through space and time behind me, but not before making one last point, "Try and think about it a little harder though. Because I swear to gods if this kind of shit happens again… well let us just say there's going to be multiple devil industries that find themselves the victim of some rather strong and locally concentrated thunderstorms. And a little birdy told me all those chemicals your parents use in their pharmaceutical manufacturing companies on Earth are quite flammable."

I left the suggestion hanging as my portal slammed shut behind me.

You know. I thought I had enough surprises for one day, but I truly hadn't expected the sight that was currently unfolding before me.

I had arrived at Olympus to do a quick debrief with either Zeus or Athena about the events of the night. I had assumed that I'd either find them alone or maybe even in another console meeting.

Instead, I found the denizens of Olympus having a picnic in the courtyard under a massive marble pavilion.

Satyrs and chefs served plates of exotic delicacies to the near hundred or so gods and goddesses that lounged around the party area. Nature spirits, nymphs, Olympians, minor gods, and godlings all chatted animatedly as the festivities were bolstered by a band playing animatedly from somewhere unseen.

Fun fact I had learned, "godlings" didn't mean minor gods or even demigods. They were just lesser gods even weaker/less important than the so-called minor gods. Usually just the result of other gods having a one-night stand. It was a question I had answered during my repeated trips to the divine home of the gods and my curiosity about who most of the population was outside of the normal Greek creatures and spirits.

Stronger than the average demigod, but far weaker than Percy or I. Even Jason, Thalia, Nico, and Bianca were more powerful than them at this point.

"The man of the hour himself!"

My gaze snapped to a certain war god who was sitting at a long table filled with various dishes, drinks, and the rest of the Olympians. He wore a bloodthirsty smile and those eyes that seemed to hold nuclear fireballs beamed at me in jubilation. In his hand was a massive mug of what I assumed was a beer and nectar mixture that was raised above his head in a toast.

"That was one of the bloodiest fights I've seen in centuries, kid!" Ares roared in approval before slamming his mug on the table and shotgunning it all in one go, "And here I thought you were just some uptight prick who only shot at his enemies from range like your mother! Ha! Your welcome to fuck, fight, and feast with my spartans, brats, and I anytime you'd like kid!"

I really shouldn't keep being surprised at this point, but when I woke up today, I was not expecting to win the favor of any god outside of maybe making my grandfather and mother proud. Yet here I was, being praised for brutality murdering a titan by Ares.

You know what, I'm not even going to fight it. I already had a tense or cold relationship with enough gods as is. Hell, maybe I could even get claimed as a legacy if I kept impressing him. And while I didn't exactly know what kind of powers I'd get from Ares, his kids were supernaturally good with any kind of weapon. Can't say that I wouldn't mind the possibility of having my swordsmanship improve massively with such a hypothetical perk. Doubly so since my weapon could transform into a variety of bladed weapons.

"I appreciate the praise uncle." I nodded my head in slight respect, "Rest assured that my future fights with the Titans and their allies will be just as brutal. No enemies of Olympus will be given mercy so long as they wish to destroy us and the Western world as we know it."

Ares's smile turned nearly feral, "Now that's what I like to hear!"

"Oh great, another bloodthirsty hero in search of glory. Who could have seen that coming?" I heard Dionysus mutter.

'Don't make new enemies Alex.' I reminded myself as I moved towards the table and its head.

"Mom." I greeted Artemis as I walked past her. I received a smile and wink in return from the goddess that was nearly my female doppelganger as I moved past and approached my grandfather, "I take it you already know of our new problem."

The King of Olympus nodded, "Satan has been unleashed and will likely become our enemy due to his adverse stance against Heaven and the current devil government for locking him up. Yes, I am aware due to your fight and confrontation being broadcasted. I take it you went to have a discussion with the Biblical Hell for their blatant violation of our territorial integrity by stowing a prisoner here without informing us?"

I nodded, "I did. To be fair to them though, not letting anyone know where he was and hiding him in foreign territory was pretty smart. Plus with how long he's been imprisoned, Olympus was still in Europe when they forged his prison in Devil's Tower."

Zeus frowned, "It's the principle of the matter Alexander."

"I know." I agreed, "Which is why I warned them if they pulled that shit again I'll be personally dropping lightning bolts on their Earthbound businesses. Though I don't think it will be necessary, as you probably already know, they want in on our triple alliance."

"Good." Zeus grunted, "And yes. I've already spoken to Odin and your current patron about it. We will be having a summit on the matter to foster better relations with them and possibly other pantheons as well. Athena will handle the latter while I assume I can trust you to continue to oversee our relations with the devils and fallen."

"Of course grandfather." I answered confidently, despite the utter headache dealing with those people usually was.

Not everyone agreed though.

"Husband, you can not seriously allow him to continue to be our diplomatic liaison to such a major pantheon." Hera spoke up while hitting me with a dismissive stare, "That should be the work of an Olympian or another god. Strong as he may be, he is still just a demigod."

No wonder Annabeth didn't like this bitch.

Still, I held my tongue. I wasn't strong enough to fight on par with full Olympians yet and I wasn't about to go wasting my precious few colt bullets.

Zeus just rolled his eyes, "We've already been over this my dear, Alexander has blood connections to the biblical faction and has increasing notoriety within it. I'll hear no further argument on the subject."

Hera simply scowled sourly as she backed down.

My grandfather shook his head as he turned his attention back toward me, "Is there anything else you'd like to report to Alexander? If not, feel free to enjoy the festivities. This is technically a watch party for your fight anyways."

"Nothing else that comes to mind." I said as I shifted my obsidian-colored blade, "And I'll have to decline on the festivities. I think I'll be returning home for now."

"You'd miss being practically the guest of honor at a divine party just to go home?" Hermes spoke up in skepticism as I charged up my sword, "Some might consider that an insult."

I hit the messenger, god, with a dull look, "I'm tired, sweaty, and covered in mud and blood. I don't particularly care right now, uncle. But before I go…"

A mental command had Aegis's gauntleted form remove itself from my arm and I gently flung it at Athena with a burst of air. The goddess who up until now had been observing the events with a bored and detached mask caught the divine armament with a look of surprise.

"I thank you for allowing me to use such a powerful artifact for my battle, my lady." I bowed my head slightly and slashed the air beside me. I made to move through the portal, only to be stopped by a strong grip on my arm.

Athena had teleported from her side of the table and now stood before me, "Why?"

My eyebrow raised in question, "Why what?"

Gray eyes that were exact copies of Annabeth's narrowed at me, "Don't play coy with me, Alexander. Crass and hotheaded you may be, but intelligence far grander than most realize hides behind those eyes. So I ask again, why?"

A sigh escaped my lips, "Because that shield is basically your second symbol of power and I'm not blind, you were pissed off when you gave me it. So I'm returning it."

"You fear my wrath that much?" The wisdom goddess questioned with her one raised eyebrow.

I gave her a genuine smile, "No. I do not fear your or any other god's wrath."

That statement had some surprised looks and glares leveled at me from Olympians and minor gods alike. Even some of the Greek spirits and godlings edged away from me slightly for such a statement.

"Then why?" She pressed again.

"It's simple really. I have respect for you." I stated, "Plus you're the mother of my girlfriend."

Athena scanned me with narrowed eyes before releasing a huff, "You're more honorable than most Alexander. And yes, while that shield is dear to me. I spoke the truth when I said that it is more useful to you when you have been the one engaging the Titans and their allies in direct combat."

I was only mildly surprised when she grabbed my free arm and slapped Aegis back onto it.

"Go on and enjoy your rest." Athena shooed me, "And give my daughter my greetings."

I fixed the goddesses with an amused look, "I never said anything about going to see Annabeth."

Athena gave me a dry stare, "I am millennia old and a goddess of war, Alexander. I am well aware of what young men do when they return home victorious from battle."

Well, she wasn't wrong per se. But knowing Annabeth, I was probably about to get questioned about Satan's prison and when I inevitably couldn't give her satisfactory answers, asked to take her there so she can look at the runes and the prison herself.

Bless my warrior and knowledge obsessed girlfriend.

?

"I've already bathed in the Styx and eaten the golden apple. What more could we possibly need?" Luke asked as he tapped his fingers rapidly in annoyance on his chair, "Let's just get this done and kill the bastard."

Alexander Arc had inconvenienced him for the last time. Olympus should have been weakened, divided, and alone. Yet years into this war and they were stronger than ever. The alliance with the Norse and Angels had been already bad enough, but the recent reunification of the Greeks and Romans had swelled their manpower further now that they were all being directed as a whole instead of separately.

The ever-growing power of Jackson and Arc was also a cause for concern. So much so that some of the minor gods they had been courting to their side from both the Greeks and other pantheons had decided to cut contact. Too scared to join the cause of The Titans and Khoas Brigade now that Olympus had made clear that they would sick their "Titan Slayer" on anyone who stepped out of line.

'No, one last thing is needed.' Kronos spoke to him from within his sarcophagus, 'With this your body will be completely able to withstand a majority of my power without burning up. Something it would surely do now even with the previous enhancements.'

The Son of Hermes felt something slithering up his leg from where he sat. To his slight horror, a snake made out of spectral black energy rose up.

Luke gulped, "You're kidding me, right?"

'The power of the Infinite Dragon will enhance your body and power to new heights.' Kronos confirmed, 'Or do you not want to kill Arc?'

"Fine," Luke grunted as he opened his mouth wide, gagging as the astral snake lunged down his throat and began the process of infusing his whole being with power. His whole body shuddered with flaming agony as Ophis's boon began its work.

Anything to finally rid this world of Artemis's spawn.

'Now join me in this sarcophagus so that the merging may begin.' The Titan King ordered.

With labored breaths, Luke nodded and whipped the building sweat from his brow as he made his way over to his master's container and lowered himself into it. Fully submerged within its darkness, he could only utter one question before the lid that had begun to grind closed fully sealed.

"And what of the second plan?"

'The components needed were delivered to our friends in Hell. Testing will begin soon enough.'

It seems people were confused about something from the last chapter.

Yes Nico is still gay in this story. Alex simply just has the same idea that Percy and everyone else did in canon. Mainly that he thinks that Nico just has a crush on Annabeth instead of being jealous of her. It's why he thinks he's figured out Nico's "type".

The thought of Nico being gay never crosses his mind because he's only ever read PJO and The Kane Chronicles. While he knows of The Heroes of Olympus series and its broad strokes such as the giants and Gaia being the main villains, the Athena statue being stolen, etc. He only knows that stuff because that's what you would know from just getting a short summary of the series/reading the summary on the back of the books before deciding you weren't interested.