With his inventory now stocked with a frankly alarming amount of breakfast food, 50 pancakes, 7 apples, 6 bananas, and 10 oranges, Percy felt a sense of chaotic accomplishment.
He headed straight for the library. It was ironic, really; Yancy Academy was a miserable place, but between the dungeon entrance hidden under the principal's window and the library that was single-handedly leveling up his intelligence, it was turning out to be the most useful location in his life.
He grabbed Greek Myths and Legends again. This time, he didn't just stumble through it. He tore through the pages.
The words flowed into his mind like water, clear and precise. The dyslexia that had plagued him for twelve years was gone, replaced by a hungry, efficient comprehension.
'Ding!'
[Skill Leveled Up!][Language: Modern English - LVL 15 (10%):][Reading Level: College+][Effect: +10% Reading Speed. You have surpassed your mortal limitations.]
Percy blinked at the notification. He had assumed the skill would cap out once he overcame his dyslexia, but apparently, there was no ceiling. If he kept this up, he could be speed-reading entire textbooks in minutes.
He put the book away and grabbed another, checking it out with a newfound swagger before heading to his first class.
He found Grover already in his seat, looking nervous. The satyr’s cheeks were flushed, and he refused to make eye contact. Mr. Brunner must have told him that I know, Percy realized.
"Hey, G-man," Percy said, sliding into the seat next to him. "How's it going?"
"H-hey, Percy," Grover stammered, wringing his hands. "I… I was just wondering... how did you…"
"Let's talk about it later, okay?" Percy cut him off gently, tapping the side of his nose. "Don't want the mortals to hear what we're talking about, do we?"
Grover swallowed hard and nodded. They fell into a silence that was surprisingly comfortable, at least for Percy. He opened his new book and started reading.
"Are you actually reading a book, Jackson?"
Percy didn't even have to look up. Nancy Bobofit's voice was like nails on a chalkboard.
"I thought you were too stupid for that," she sneered, leaning over his desk.
Percy ground his teeth, fighting the urge to snap. "Yeah, I was," he said, keeping his voice even. "But it's never too late to learn. By the way, Nancy, you should probably leave. I hear you're allergic to studying. Wouldn't want you to break out in hives or something." He paused, looking up with a sharp grin. "Wait... actually, stay. Please. I insist."
Nancy glared at him, her mouth opening and closing like a fish, before she huffed, spun on her heel, and marched back to her friends.
'Ah, that stupid girl!' Percy thought, watching her laugh and point at him. The irritation flared in his chest. He wanted to wipe that smirk off her face. But there were no water bottles nearby, Nancy had learned her lesson after the cafeteria incident.
Then, an idea struck him. A dark, intrusive thought that made him smirk.
Blood is 90% water.
He focused on Nancy’s legs as she walked away.
"Water control," he whispered, pushing his mana toward the blood flowing in her veins, intending to just trip her, to pull her feet out from under her.
'Ding!'
[Skill Restriction!][Blood Control Failed.][Reason: Target Level is too low.][Mechanic: You cannot use Blood Control on targets significantly weaker than you (Level < 5) or significantly stronger than you (Level > 20 levels above). This range will expand as the skill levels up.]
What the fuck? Percy stared at the red box. So I can't bully weaklings or cheese bosses? It seemed the game had some strict rules about becoming a blood-bending tyrant.
He sighed, dismissing the box and turning back to his book.
The day passed in a blur of productivity. Percy actually listened in class. He took notes. He answered a question correctly in math, which nearly gave Mrs. Dodds a stroke.
'Ding!'
[+1 INT]
By the time the final bell rang, Percy felt smarter, sharper. The rewards for basic competence were surprisingly high when you started from the bottom.
In their last class, Latin, Mr. Brunner cleared his throat to get their attention.
"Now, class," he wheeled himself to the front, "as you all remember, the field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art is tomorrow. Go to bed early, pack light, and bring your notebooks. What you see there will be on the test."
Groans erupted around the room as students packed their bags.
"Mr. Jackson, Mr. Underwood," Mr. Brunner called out over the noise. "Please join me in my office for a moment."
Percy and Grover exchanged a look. Grover looked like he wanted to bolt, but Percy just shrugged. They both knew exactly what this was about.
A few minutes later, the three of them were in the office, the same office Percy had burglarized just a few hours ago.
"It's strange being in here during the day," Percy muttered, chuckling to himself.
Mr. Brunner sighed, resting his hands on his lap. "Percy, do you know why you are here?"
"Yup," Percy said, dropping into a chair and crossing his arms. "You two are finally going to stop acting like bad community theater actors and come clean with me."
Mr. Brunner winced slightly. "Yes, well. I suppose our performance could have been better, especially if you saw through it so easily."
"Hey! Is that an insult?" Percy asked, feigning hurt.
"But Percy, how did you know?" Grover burst out, unable to hold it in any longer. "It usually takes people years to even suspect the mythological world exists! Most mortals never see through the Mist!"
Percy shrugged, leaning back. "I have a cool attitude. Plus, once you see your best friend making a rainbow video call to his tree-spirit girlfriend in the middle of the night, doubt kind of goes out the window."
Grover groaned and put his face in his hands. "I knew that was a mistake. Juniper is going to kill me."
"Chill, man," Percy said. He turned his gaze to the teacher. "So, Mr. C. Why does a Fury want to kill me?"
Mr. Brunner’s eyes sharpened. He chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound. "Straight to the point, I see. Very well. You see, Percy, there is something you must know. It concerns your father."
"Yeah," Percy interrupted, his face completely blank. "He's Poseidon."
Mr. Brunner froze. Grover’s head snapped up so fast Percy heard his neck crack.
"Wait... what?" Mr. Brunner asked, his voice losing its composure for the first time. "How... how do you know that?"