Percy Jackson: As a Gamer In This Dark World

"So, what's the highest level someone on this planet can reach?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

'That information is beyond your current access. When the time is right, you will learn,' Gaia replied in her usual cryptic tone.

I sighed. Gaia and her endless mysteries. Turning my attention back to the glowing stat board, I began contemplating my options.

The first thing I did was allocate my nonexistent bonus skill points—though it didn't stop the system from chiming as if I'd done something important.

'By acquiring the [Gaia System] perk, you gain my assistance in offering advice about events and circumstances that may affect your future. It also allows you to contact me at any time, essentially making me your personal guide. This ensures not only your safety but also gives you someone to converse with when you're bored.'

I swore she sounded sarcastic, but I decided to let it slide.

Next, I moved on to my nine bonus points. I grumbled as I scrolled through the options.

Certain perks, like [Increase Discounts and Rewards] or [Rare Item Drop Boost], seemed irrelevant for a four-year-old like me. No need to optimize trade deals or loot rates just yet.

After much deliberation, I made my choices.

The first point went into [Special Skills] to unlock [Bonus Skill Leveling]. Next, I allocated three points into [XP Requirement Reduction], shaving off a fifth of the experience needed to level up.

The following three went straight into [XP Gain Increase], granting me a 20% bonus to all experience earned.

With two points remaining, I hesitated.

"Can I reset these later?" I asked.

'No, skill allocations are permanent,' Gaia replied, dashing my hopes.

After glaring at the screen for what felt like an eternity, I decided on [Detect Analysis].

"This skill lets me see stats and details about objects and people, right?" I asked.

'Correct. However, it will not work on individuals more than 30 levels above you or on items ranked higher than rare. The skill improves with usage, unlocking more detailed information as it levels up,' Gaia explained.

"Good enough for now," I said, finalizing my selection.

[Detect Analysis]

Type: Passive

Level: 1 (0%)

Effect: Enables the user to view basic information about objects and individuals. As the skill levels up, more detailed stats and descriptions become available.

Reading the description brought a small smile to my face. "This should come in handy."

'If you're satisfied, I recommend getting some rest. Your mind will need time to recover from all this new information,' Gaia advised.

I nodded, stifling a yawn. "Fine, but you should get some rest too," I said, half-joking.

'I do not require sleep,' Gaia replied, her tone as emotionless as ever.

"Haaa… I was trying to be nice. Maybe, as we spend more time together, you might become more human. Who knows, you might even develop emotions someday." My words hung in the air as I drifted off into the embrace of sleep.

The first thing I planned to do was tell Trista about my [Adventurer Card], but I'd have to keep certain parts—like Gaia and my "mother" skills—a secret. Something told me that revealing too much would attract all the wrong kinds of attention.

Wizards dissecting me for research? Getting locked in some kind of magical academy under constant surveillance? No thanks.

Little did I realize just how drastically my life would change from that moment onward. Choices and circumstances were already aligning to force me into situations that would mold me into something monstrous.

And that monster? It would one day strike fear into the hearts of this world's most powerful beings.

But even more surprising was that I wasn't as alone in this world as I had first thought.

….

Two Years Later:

Right now, I was in the midst of the most legendary quest of any true hero. A mission so vital it could determine the fate of countless worlds and the void between them. One that would test my resolve, my cunning, and my strength at every step.

Yes, I was… picking herbs.

Quest: Pick 10 Herbs

Progress: 7/10 herbs collected.

Info: Collect herbs to assist your mother in preparing medicine. Completing this quest will unlock it as a repeatable daily task for XP.

Reward: 10 XP

As I yanked yet another herb from the ground, I let out a long, exaggerated sigh. Nothing screamed "heroic adventure" like a good old-fashioned herb-picking quest. This was the stuff legends were made of.

In all honesty, though, my life here had been far too uneventful since I got my [Adventurer Card]. No battles. No brushes with danger. Nothing remotely challenging. The most action I'd seen was sparring with a few members of my mercenary family.

I wasn't one to complain, but the past two years had been painfully dull. And not the kind of dull you'd get from a quiet life in the countryside—no, this was the "overprotective mother who hardly lets you breathe" kind of dull.

Don't get me wrong, I loved Trista like any child would love a mother. But convincing her to let me leave camp to gather herbs? That had been a battle in itself. Despite the newfound freedom, I couldn't shake the feeling that life had slowed to a crawl.

A lot had changed since the siege two years ago. After capturing the castle for the kingdom that hired us, our mercenary group was tasked with exploring a newly discovered dungeon within the reclaimed territory. The dungeon, unexplored and mysterious, had only appeared a few years prior. With the war between the kingdoms occupying everyone's attention, no one had been able to investigate it until now.

The dungeon, however, was a goldmine. Literally. The deal was simple: we'd explore it in exchange for half the profits from monster drops and treasure chests. On top of that, our group was granted permanent residence in the city we'd captured. Jake, the leader of our band, was even made Lord of the city.

Of course, there was a catch. The city was in shambles from the siege—half the buildings were either destroyed or uninhabitable, and the infrastructure was crumbling. Some saw Jake's title as a slight, but he seemed content with the arrangement. With time and effort, the city could be rebuilt, and the dungeon provided a stable source of income.

For many in our group, the offer of stability was welcome. They were tired of the endless wandering and constant battles that came with being mercenaries. Others, however, missed the thrill of the old life and opted to leave, heading to the borderlands to join the ongoing skirmishes.

"Are you almost done?"

The voice snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to see Trista standing nearby, dressed in simple, practical clothing that suited her well. Though it was hard to call anything in this medieval-esque world truly "normal," her attire was as close as it got.

Her face bore subtle signs of age, but her warm smile remained the same. I couldn't help but grin as I held up the basket of herbs I'd been collecting. "Yep!"

Using my [Detect Analysis] skill—or just [Analysis], as I liked to call it—I'd been able to gather the herbs quickly and efficiently.

Most were in perfect condition. I'd even stumbled upon a rare magic mushroom, though I'd botched the harvest and now held a shriveled, useless lump in my hand.

Trista crouched down to inspect the basket, her practiced eye scanning the contents. A smile spread across her face as she nodded approvingly.

"These are in excellent condition. Great work," she said, her tone carrying a mix of pride and encouragement.