Chapter 1

As Lady Meifang told the story 'bout what went down the last time Darkseid showed up, Jackie listened in. The whole deal was enhanced with some kinda illusion magic what made pictures of the whole thing dance on the wall like some sorta shadow puppet show. Jackie watched as a buncha Gods pitched in and did their part while the rest of their Pantheons sat on their asses hoping Darkseid'd pass them by. It was a pretty stupid plan. You only had to look at what went down with the Nazis to figure that ought. If someone like that wanted your land, your neutrality ain't worth shit. Still it ain't like every God from those Pantheons did jack shit. Some fought as volunteers while others tried to get New Genesis to join in.

And New Genesis did wind up joining in eventually. Jackie ain't too sure what their deal was. They were like, the White Hat version of Apokalips or something? Whatever the case was, they were strong. When they finally did show up, they bitch-slapped Darkseid's forces back to Apokalips and forced him to knock off the conquering. Course, Jackie couldn't say much for that Highfather Izaya Guy's idea of a guarantee of peace. Seriously, Darkseid seemed like the kinda guy who ain't gave two shits for his kids. It was more likely the whole Izaya betaing down Darkseid personally thing was a better guarantee that Darkseid'd stick to the treaty.

Cept now we knew something was gonna change on that front in the next year or two that'd make Darkseid think he could finish what he started. Everyone knew it, thanks to Doc Fate, and Circe'd panicked, stolen his alchemy, and moved to conquer Olympus. Jackie frowned at the possibilities. He knew he ain't given away shit, and he don't sell his pills. It had to be battlefield salvage. Question was from where. There were only a couple battles where he ain't come back with his pill chute. Most were too old for the timing to make sense, which left the Bane fight. They'd literally brought the house down and it'd buried his pill chute.

"Are you paying attention?" Questioned Lady Meifang.

"Sorry, just thinking. Think I figured out where Circe got hold of my pills." Answered Jackie.

"Oh? Do tell." Pressed Lady Meifang.

"Indeed, I would like to know as well." Added Diana.

"Well, when I fought Bane mano-a-mano for the last time, he literally knocked me through a building. I lost my pill chute in the process and I ain't been able to go back and get it 'cause our fight brought the building down. She must've gone through the rubble to grab the pill chute." Informed Jackie.

"I see. What pills were in the chute at the time?" Queried Diana.

"Healing pills, smokescreens, chi replenishers, anti-toxins, mana replenishers, dragonsbreath pills, carp pills in case he knocked my ass into the Gotham River, flash capsules, a few doses of Zhurong's Protective Embrace in case of fire, a couple doses of Leigong's preserving wings in case of lightning, and a couple different kindsa experimental boosters." Listed Jackie.

"That matches with the observed enhanced capabilities of Circe's Beastmen. They seemed less phased by Zeus' lightning bolts or Hestia's flames than they ought to be, were able to heal, even from Heracles' Hydra venom tipped arrows, unable to be drowned by Poseidon's summoned waves, able to spit flames, able to stun troops with flashes of light, and seemed tireless, able to fight for a full day and night straight. They're even more physically powerful than they normally are." Sighed Diana.

"Indeed, it seems as if the only thing that has allowed Olympus to regroup is the fact that Demeter was able to stall them with hedgerows and that Hades can summon his skeletal legions to bolster numbers. However even with such tactics, it takes multiple Olympians to take the field to force them to retreat and Circe isn't the only Olympian to be attacking." Concurred Lady Meifang.

"Who else's making a ruckus over there?" Asked Jackie.

"Hades has joined Circe's side. Apparently, he believes that if Zeus is allowed to remain in power on Olympus, he'll only make the same mistakes of neutrality as last time." Answered Lady Meifang.

"As if he needs a reason to fight. It has ever been his way to seek conflict and discord at every opportunity." Scoffed Diana.

"Speaking of discord, Eris has also joined the revolt, as have Phobos and Deimos." Offered Lady Meifang.

"Five Olympians and an army of hopped-up Beastmen. Seems a bit shorthanded for something that's pushing back Zeus and his lot." Frowned Jackie.

"That is because those are not the whole of their forces. Each of those five Olympians has, with some foresight, managed to sire Demigods willing to aid them. They've clearly been planning insurrection for some time." Grumbled Diana.

"Demigods, huh. All right, lemme hear about 'em." Nodded Jackie.

"The Rebel Demigods are led by Aoife McDougall, daughter of Ares and a woman named Orla McDougall. Apparently there was some magic in her mother's blood that awakened with the introduction of Godly blood into the family line. Now, not only does she have the physical capabilities, pyrokinesis, and umbrakinesis of a mortal daughter of ares, but she is possessed of sonokinesis and the ability to fly as well. Her vast array of powers, combined with her tactical capabilities and martial prowess made her a natural fit for leadership." Informed Lady Meifang.

"What else?" Questioned Jackie.

"Amanda Lau is the daughter of Circe and an Expatriate from Hong Kong named Tommy Lau. Tommy Lau himself was the bastard son of Liu Zhi, a member of the Liu family, and a prostitute, Lau Caihong. Being descended from the Liu family gives Amanda an extra boost in her blood and when combined with Circe's has led to Amanda being a quite potent Sorceress." Continued Lady Meifang.

"Not nearly as potent as Circe, though. I suspect she'd sooner have smothered her daughter in the crib than taught her magics she could use to overthrow her." Scowled Diana.

"Indeed. She does seem the type to prefer none of her offspring ever be able to surpass her." Agreed Lady Meifang.

"At any rate, there are three others. Tyler Benn, the Son of Eris and a British Amateur Boxer has more minor superhuman physical capabilities, but combined with his powers of illusion, his boxing prowess, and his ruthlessness, he's something of a powerful dirty fighter. Then there's Henri Tautin, son of Phobos and French Special Agent Josephine Tautin. He's got the same minor Superhuman Strength and Fortitude as Tyler Benn, but has double the superhuman speed and agility to go with it. He's also got a psychic danger sense that warns him of danger by sensing hostile intent. It's sort of an inverse of his father's fear projection. He's quite the acrobat as well, along with being a master of Savate and Swordsmanship. Notably his Sabre was made by Hepheastus back before the Rebellion." Added Diana.

"What's it do?" Queried Jackie.

"It's a bit sharper than the average monomolecular blade. From what Bruce mentioned, you faced off against enemies wielding depleted promethium monoblades, yes? Well it's sharper and more deadly than those, capable of cutting a God." Explained Diana.

"Indeed, though the last Demigod is more dangerous. Yuri Raatko is the son of Deimos and the Russian Information Broker Katarina Raatko. That in itself would not be notable, however, Katarina Raatko's great-grandfather was a man named Yevgeny Raatko, whose mother Nyssa was a daughter of Ra's Al-Ghul. Yuri has inherited his ancestor's tactical mind and talent for deception, along with his Martial Talent. He is not as physically powerful as Aoife McDougall, but he makes up for that with immense psychic capabilities." Pointed out Lady Meifang.

"What kinda psychic powers?" Asked Jackie.

"More than once have a contingent of Minotaur Warriors suddenly been seized by Yuri's psionic control and sent crashing into the Loyalist Olympian's flanks. He is also quite capable of casting mental illusions as Theseus learned during one battle where he was tricked into attacking Achilles via illusions. He is also capable of reading minds, as Jason learned during a duel. Yuri was able to read Jason's mind and counter his attacks as he threw them." Intoned Diana.

"Huh. If this guy's all that, how come he ain't the one in charge of the Rebel Demigods?" Pressed Jackie.

"He'd like to be, but he isn't. As best we can tell, he challenged Aoife McDougall behind closed doors after the first time the Rebels were pushed back successfully. He did not take the field the day after, but the day after that he returned to battle, still taking orders from Aoife McDougall." Explained Diana.

"Sounds like he got his ass whupped then. Maybe the mind whammy don't work on the Boss Lady?" Questioned Jackie.

"We don't know. Olympus was finally cut off from outside help shortly after. It will be impossible to test that assumption until the relief force can break through." Shrugged Lady Meifang.

"Speaking of which. That's the force you'll be going with. Only some of it has gathered so far. It will take a week or so for all to arrive. In that time you'll be training." Informed Diana.

"Come with me. I will show you to your tutors." Insisted Lady Meifang.

Jackie moved to get outtta the bed he was in before he realized he was still butt naked. He ain't about to literally show his ass to a literal Goddess like Lady Meifang or a figurative one like Diana, specially not with how Diana's low cut top was making his Guandao stand on end, so to speak. He looked down to one side and asked if Lady Meifeng'd be willing to lend him some pants. She chuckled as she pointed to the cupboard thing in the corner of the room.

"You will find training clothes in there, Descendant." Grinned Lady Meifang.

"Great, mind waiting for me outside?" Queried Jackie.

"I suppose I should ensure that Monkey hasn't decided to get into the Baiju out of impatience. Very well." Agreed Lady Meifang.

"Great. You too, Princess." Insisted Jackie.

"Please. You hardly have anything I haven't seen before. Is this some form of male pride?" Scoffed Diana.

"That ain't the point." Grumbled Jackie, looking down and to the side, face coloring despite his best efforts.

"What? Speak sense." Prodded Diana.

"Ah, I see the problem. I believe he may be embarrased by how his, shall we say banner is at full mast?" Offered Lady Meifang.

"Oh. Oh! Yes. Outside is good. We will be outside." Nodded Diana.

As they left, and Jackie got outta bed, he could hear soft laughter from outside the door. They were laughing at his fucking embarrasment. It figured, what with the way his luck'd been going recently. He made his way over to the cupboard to find the outfit in question. A sturdy vest of boiled, enchanted, alchemically treated, Luduan Beast leather, dyed in white, blue, and yellow. Trousers of black, mystically imbued, silk tucked into sturdy, alchemically treated, enchanted, boots of Luduan Beast leather and Ghost Brass. A yellow, mystically imbued, silk sash to cinch around the waist. Finally, a pair of black, fingerless, enchanted, alchemically treated, Luduan Beast leather and blackened Godmetal Half-gauntlets Vambraces.

He pulled the outfit on, and instantly, Jackie realized that this stuff was leagues ahead of the shit he was used to working with. He wondered if he might be allowed to keep it, or at least get some of the materials for his own use as a sorta boon for when this whole deal was over with. It'd help him out bigtime when it came to fighting off Apokalips, after all. Even if he ain't allowed to keep the whole outfit or get any materials like it, at least the Half-gauntlet Vambraces and boots'd be a big help. Specially when fighting guys who're stronger and tougher than he is.

Questions for later, right now, he was dressed so he headed outta the room. Lady Meifang led him down a hallway, down some stairs, and out into an outside walkway along a wall. The first thing Jackie noticed was the floating palace high above the peak in the distance. That was some kinda ancient divine magic shit, and if Jackie was a betting man, which he was, he'd put even money on that being the Jade Emperor's place. The second thing he noticed was that Mount Meru spread out above and below Lady Meifang's palace with all sortsa houses, palaces, shops, and whatnot all arranged in various sections of the mountain, with the Jade Emperor's Palace floating up above the peak. It looked like Lady Meifeng's place was on the third terraced section of Mount Meru. That ain't too shabby if Jackie remembered his cosmology right.

Course, Jackie really shoulda been paying more attention to the courtyard he was being led to, cause that was where his apparent turtors were waiting for him. The first, a half-pig, half-man, Demon who had a Rake that was oozing mystic power slung over his shoulder. The second, a hairy, noseless, ogre of a Man who carried a Monk Spade which also had the kinda mystic power you couldn't help notice. The last, however, was a humanoid Monkey, dressed in gold mountain scale armor with some kinda peacock feather headdress. He had a red lacquer, gold-banded, Staff slung over one shoulder and was putting out more power than the other two combined.

"Meet your tutors, Descendant. Sha Wujing, Zhu Baije, and of course, Sun Wukong." Grinned Lady Meifang, pointing to each in turn, as if Jackie ain't able to figure out who they were on his own.

"Call me Elder Brother Piggsy, please. The full name's a bit of a mouthful." Nodded the Pig Demon, Zhu Baije.

"If he gets to be Piggsy, I must insist you call me Elder Brother Sandy." Spoke up the Hairy Ogre, Sha Wujing.

"You two are too friendly! We don't even know if this Kid's any good yet! You can call me the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, or the Handsome Monkey King, if you like. I'm gonna have to test you to see if I'll let you call me Sifu, though." Boasted Sun Wukong. Strangely, Jackie couldn't wait.

These three were literal legends, it ain't every day you get those kindsa teachers, after all. . .

XXXX

AN: So here we are back with Jackie. We get a little info on what kind of opposition he's up against, what the situation is like, and also get to see a bit of Jackie's Tutors. Lady Meifang really did call in a few favors to get him the best there is. Come on, it's one of my stories, anyone who knows me knows I always take the opportunity to riff on Journey to the West whenever it comes up.

As to the Rebel Demigods, some of them have ties to existing DC characters, one has ties to one of the Old Cultivation families, and the last is the least powerful of them, but makes up for it in using what power he has in clever, if vicious, ways. Five Rebel Olympians, five Rebel Demigods, and an army of alchemically-enhanced Beastmen are a pretty big threat.

At any rate, next up we'll get Jackie taking Sun Wukong's test. He may be excited now, but he won't be in a bit.

Stay tuned. . .