After processing all his discoveries, he remained silent for a good couple of minutes.
Before deciding to return.
Ikki stood still, breathing deeply as he felt his authority over the [Wind] around him. He could feel the air currents, the lightness of the breeze, and the strength of storms, all flowing through him as if they were extensions of his own body. His control over the element was absolute, the sensation of *being* the wind itself indescribable.
Without hesitation, he *became* the air current. His body dissolved into particles that vanished and dispersed, only to reassemble in an ethereal form, materializing on the docks where his friends awaited him.
Thalia, Zoë, Grover, Atalanta, and Phoebe were there, all visibly injured, but nothing serious. The mercenaries were defeated, sprawled on the ground, and Ethan had fled. This wasn't surprising to Ikki, considering what he now knew; the demigod had traded his eye for the 'fate of escaping the group of campers and hunters if he lost.' Apparently, he was a valuable enough soldier for Kronos to suggest such a bargain.
The sound of his feet touching the dock brought the group back to reality, and the sight of him made them all turn immediately, surprised.
Thalia was the first to react, her hand tightening on her spear, ready to respond. Zoë instantly positioned herself beside her, observing intently, and Atalanta braced herself for any movement. Even Phoebe, who always maintained a stubborn calm, prepared for the worst, her fingers nearing the dagger at her waist.
Grover was the slowest to react, frowning in confusion until his gaze fell upon the figure before him. The tension in the group still hung heavy in the air, but Grover's eyes lit up with bewildered, yet relieved recognition.
They hadn't expected Ikki to simply appear there, as if nothing had happened. What shocked them most, however, was the visible change in him.
It wasn't his appearance that had changed, but somehow, he seemed calmer and more at peace, as if the weight of a million things had been lifted from his shoulders. A faint smile played on his lips, the smile of someone who no longer seemed to carry the world on his back. He no longer resembled the Ikki they knew, the tense and conflicted friend.
Grover, standing in front of everyone, was stunned to see that expression on Ikki's face. He carefully observed the smile, something genuine, without the hardness that usually marked his features. For a moment, everything seemed to stop. The memory of the optimistic and lively friend he had met two years ago seemed to be reflected in the figure before him. The boy who, even in the worst situations, always managed to make everyone feel better.
The satyr, feeling the weight of this change, felt something tighten in his chest. It was a mixture of relief and emotion, as if he were seeing his friend finally letting go of what had consumed him for so long.
"He's back…" Grover murmured to himself, unable to hide the emotion in his voice, a tear almost escaping his eyes.
Silence hung in the air for a moment as the group observed Ikki, surprised by the calm and lightness he now exuded.
"Ikki… What happened to Nemesis?" Thalia asked, still trying to process the change in her friend.
Ikki, with a carefree smile on his lips, shrugged as if the victory against the goddess wasn't worthy of more than a simple mention.
"Defeated her. Easy."
His response was direct and casual, as if he had just disarmed a common enemy in a trivial battle.
The group, surprised by the simplicity of the answer, exchanged glances. It was hard to imagine that someone like Nemesis, the Goddess of Fate and Balance, could be defeated so easily. But, at the same time, nothing about Ikki seemed too surprising anymore. They remembered the extraordinary feats he had already accomplished: the defeat of Hercules, the fight against Ares, the destruction of Talos with a single blow.
Zoë arched an eyebrow, suspicious, but aware of Ikki's capabilities.
"Easy? We know what you've done so far… but Nemesis, won't she return for revenge?" she asked, still trying to understand the magnitude of what he had just said.
"Relax, she's dead. You can call me the Godslayer of the Brave…" Ikki smiled slightly as he explained.
The group fell silent for a moment, exchanging incredulous glances. Ikki's declaration was so casual, so unpretentious, that it seemed impossible to believe at first glance. Even with everything they had witnessed, the idea of Ikki, so calmly, declaring himself the "Godslayer of the Brave" was almost absurd.
Grover was the first to break the silence, his expression a mixture of surprise and nervous laughter. He scratched his head, clearly speechless.
"Godslayer of the Brave?" he repeated, almost in disbelief. "Man, you don't lose your composure, do you?"
Thalia let out a sigh, more relieved than surprised, remembering Ikki's past deeds.
"I should have expected this from you…" she murmured with an amused smile. "Killing a goddess doesn't seem so strange after everything you've already done…"
Atalanta also allowed a small smile to grace her lips.
Phoebe, quieter, simply observed Ikki with an attentive gaze.
With a sigh, Grover smiled, now completely relieved, seeing that his friend was finally at peace with himself.
"I knew you'd come back…" he said, with a tone of confidence and friendship.
"I'm back to stay now…" Ikki said calmly.
He then asked how their fight went.
The group exchanged glances before explaining to Ikki how the confrontation with the mercenaries had unfolded. Despite their victory, Ethan managed to escape, something frustrating but not unexpected, considering what Ikki knew about him from Nemesis's memories.
Mid-conversation, the surrounding water began to ripple gently, and then Ophiotaurus emerged from the depths. Its half-cow, half-serpent body shimmered under the moonlight, and its large silver eyes fixed on Ikki before the creature swam towards him, clearly recognizing him. Ikki smiled slightly and ran his hand over its soft head, feeling the warmth and energy of the mythical creature beneath his fingers.
After the group finished recounting their fight, Ikki began to narrate his battle against Nemesis. He explained the decisive moments of the confrontation, omitting certain more private details, like the fact that he had absorbed her existence and gained understanding and mastery over the concepts of [Balance], [Retribution], and [Justice]. However, what he made a point of sharing was the most crucial information: he knew where Artemis was.
The truth was, Ikki had discovered the goddess's location when he gained understanding of fate.
Before, fate itself concealed this information from him, and his senses couldn't reach that place, but now everything was clear, and with the wind and lightning under his complete control, it was difficult for any place on the planet to remain hidden from his senses. And there was another person in the group who also knew the location.
He relayed this to everyone, who then turned their attention to the lieutenant of the Hunters.
"My sisters' garden," Zoë said, her expression closed. "I must go home…"
A heavy silence fell. The journey was reaching its climax, but there was a problem.
"We'll never make it," Zoë continued, frustrated. "We can't abandon the Ophiotaurus."
"Moo." The cow-serpent voiced its agreement.
The sun was already setting in the west, and Thalia crossed her arms impatiently.
"I don't understand. Why do we have to get there by sunset?"
"The Hesperides are the nymphs of sunset…" Zoë explained bitterly. "We can only enter their garden when day turns to night…"
"And if we're late?"
"Tomorrow is the winter solstice," Zoë said, her voice laden with urgency. "If we miss sunset tonight, we'll have to wait until tomorrow evening. And by then, the Olympian Council will be over. We must free Lady Artemis tonight…"
"We need a car…" Atalanta suggested.
"But what about our big guy here…" Phoebe murmured, looking at the Ophiotaurus.
Ikki pondered for a moment and then suggested his idea.
"We send him back to camp by sea. Grover, you can take him. The Hunters should go too, to protect him."
Grover's eyes widened.
"I… I can show the way," he said hesitantly.
The satyr wasn't a fan of water. He had almost drowned last summer in the Sea of Monsters and didn't swim well with his goat hooves. But even so, he knew it was the best option.
"I'm the only one who can talk to him," Grover said ruefully. "It makes sense…"
He bent down and whispered something in the cow-serpent's ear. The Ophiotaurus shuddered, then let out a contented moo.
Ikki looked at Atalanta and Phoebe.
"You two should accompany him to provide cover. We don't know what might appear along the way."
The two Hunters exchanged glances, clearly reluctant to abandon the mission. But Zoë sighed and nodded.
"Ikki is right. Our priority should be keeping the Ophiotaurus safe. You must go…"
With the plan set, Ikki stepped away from the group and raised his hand to the sky. Black lightning began to form around him, crackling in the air like electric serpents, dancing between his fingers and growing in intensity. The sky above reflected his energy, thundering in response to his will.
Then, with a single gesture, he lowered his hand.
Thunder roared.
From the void, a ship began to materialize. Black lightning fused and intertwined, creating a solid and imposing structure. First came the hull, robust and menacing, made of pure condensed electricity, resembling black wood but pulsing with a dark glow. Then the masts rose, tall and proud, holding sails as dark as night, vibrating with latent energy.
When the last spark vanished, the ship landed in the water with a crash, making the docks tremble with the force of the impact. The waves parted in response, spreading in circles around the newly created vessel.
The ship was a spectacle, its structure appearing ancient and resistant, yet alive, as if every part of it were in constant motion, electricity coursing along its edges. It would kill any creature with the intent to harm or injure the group within a hundred-meter radius, even destroying warships with electricity if needed.
The group was momentarily paralyzed, surprised by the scene before them. Thalia, who was already accustomed to Ikki's eccentricities, widened her eyes.
"That's…" she began, but couldn't find the words.
Ikki smirked.
"It's just a ship," he said casually, though the glint in his eyes betrayed a certain pride.
Grover, still processing everything, let out a sigh.
"Sure… why not?"
Zoë crossed her arms, observing the vessel with calculating eyes.
"At least it looks sturdy."
The Ophiotaurus, as if it knew this was its transport, swished its tail excitedly before diving into the water and swimming towards the ship. With the decision made, Atalanta, Grover, and Phoebe embarked, while Ikki stepped away from the edge of the dock.
He then held his white jacket – made from the Nemean Lion's pelt – and tossed it into the waters, murmuring a prayer to Poseidon.
"Uncle Poseidon, ensure they arrive safely."
The sea responded. The waters became calm, and a subtle current began to push the ship forward. As a final touch, Ikki closed his eyes and offered a silent prayer to Hestia. He knew that, even without a connection to the sea, she represented home.
The air around the group warmed slightly, bringing unexpected comfort.
With everything prepared, Atalanta, Grover, Phoebe, and Ophiotaurus boarded the ship. The group watched as the vessel, guided by the will of the gods, began to move away from the shore.
Ikki remained there for a few moments, watching, while also blessing his friends with [Luck] through the concepts he gained from Nemesis.
The sea reflected the distant glimmer of the stars, and the momentary silence between the three was filled by the sound of waves lapping against the aged wood of the pier.
Thalia was the first to break the silence that settled over the three.
"Now we just need to get a car and–"
"Or I could just teleport us to the entrance of the Garden."
Ikki's words made Thalia and Zoë's gazes immediately snap towards him.
"What?" Thalia narrowed her eyes. "You could have done that this whole time?!"
Ikki shrugged, his expression neutral, but with a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"Couldn't before. Too many people to carry."
It was a convenient excuse, and he knew it. The truth was his magical teleportation had been blocked because he was still assimilating his understanding of magic. Now, he could travel with the wind in an instant, with lightning, traversing the world like a storm moving across the sky.
Thalia sighed, rubbing her forehead as if she had a slight headache.
"Whatever. As long as you get us there before sunset, I'm fine with it."
Zoë hesitated but knew they didn't have many options. Time was against them.
"Just take us to the right place."
Ikki raised an eyebrow as if the suggestion of making a mistake were offensive. He extended his hands to the two of them.
"Trust me…"
Thalia crossed her arms, her expression cautious.
"Is this really necessary?"
Ikki gave her an amused look.
"No, but if you want to stay behind and take a cab, feel free."
She rolled her eyes, but her hesitation was evident. Taking a deep breath, she slowly extended her hand as if she were touching something that might burn her. When her fingers brushed against his, a shiver ran up her arm. It wasn't just because of the electricity crackling on his skin; it was something deeper, a sensation that made her heart skip a beat.
Zoë, on the other hand, seemed even more rigid. Her eyes were fixed on Ikki's outstretched hand, her face impassive, but there was something in the way her fingers clenched at her side—a subtle trace of uncertainty.
"I don't like this," she murmured.
"You can trust me or you can keep complaining. Your choice."
Zoë pursed her lips, her eyes flashing defiantly. But then, with a hesitant and almost imperceptible movement, she raised her hand. Unlike Thalia, whose touch was decisive after the initial moment of reluctance, Zoë placed her fingers on Ikki's palm with extreme delicacy, almost as if she were about to pull them back at any second.
And then, for a brief instant, both of them realized the situation: they were holding his hands. The warmth of his skin contrasted with the cold coming from the ocean, creating a mixture of sensations. Thalia looked away, trying to ignore the way her heart was beating a little faster. Zoë remained firm, but the stiffness of her shoulders betrayed her inner turmoil.
As soon as Ikki closed his fingers around Thalia and Zoë's hands, a sudden gust of wind swept across the docks. The air around them seemed to vibrate, charged with electricity, and then, without warning, their bodies began to dissolve like mist carried by the breeze.
Ikki's black hair merged with the stormy wind, his eyes flashing for a brief instant before dissolving into pure air current. Thalia's eyes widened as she saw her own form dematerializing, her boots already disappearing as if she were being absorbed by the sky itself.
"What the hell–?!" Her voice dissolved like an echo, carried away by the wind.
Zoë tried to maintain control, but her fingers instinctively tightened against Ikki's hand when she felt her body become too light, as if she were becoming part of the air itself. Her heart raced, but she remained silent, determined not to show surprise.
In a matter of seconds, the three became mere invisible currents of air, traversing the sky with terrifying speed. The wind roared around them like distant thunder as they sped towards the Garden of the Hesperides, carried by the very essence of the storm.