Gods, what a bunch of pricks.

Skill unlocked: Common Thrown Weapon Mastery(passive)
Your proficiency with thrown weapons has become passable; you might actually touch a bird’s feathers now! +5% hit chance with thrown weapons

Achievement unlocked: Ain’t that what they call…”
Have things go from bad, to worse, to horrible, all within an hour
Reward: 1 bar of chocolate. There, there.

John shuddered as he finally saw the pop-ups, really not in the mood for this bullshit, only for the usual text wall to flood him too; the gods seemed to have had a field day.

Did he really just fall into his own trap? Really?

Aye, the lad did. He sure didn’t count on that one.

Well, there goes one of Artemis’ precious pets. It was nice knowing the little floof. Ain’t that right, Gaia? Old man?

Watch who ye call old, laddy, but aye, it does not look good for poor ol’ Jack. Guess we will see if he manages to save him.

John decided to scroll all the way down, his depressed mind only growing darker and bleaker as he saw how casually the gods were talking about him. They talked about his life as if it was a tv-show, not as if he had almost died countless times up till now, and there, with a frightened, scared shitless mind, John snapped.

‘Oi, you three, yeah, you. Cerriboy, pun-goddess and Dwarfman. Could you, for one moment in your bloody infinite lives, shut the fuck up? I have enough to fucking worry about without you three commentating everything like Waldorf and Statler.’

Keeping in mind that there are more enemies around him than he could stand to know, he thought it at them, angrily.

I told you to never call me-

‘Shut, the fuck, up.’

What did you just say?

You heard him, lad; the boy has had enough of yer shite, hehehe

Both of you, can it. Did you hear what he called me?

Aye, pun-goddess, which in all fairness… No, nothing Gaia

‘Why did none of you three even bother to lift a finger when Jack got taken? Why, when I almost died, AGAIN, did neither of you three decide ‘hey, he’s in danger. I should help him’? Why do you three keep gawking and babbling like this is some silly soap opera? This is my life you are talking about! You seem to find me oh so interesting, but the moment I almost die, none of you three are there to help me out. So excuuuuuuse me for not showing the due respect. Selfish pricks.’

To John’s surprise he only got a very simple pop up, the chilly voice of Gaia reading it out for once.

Are you done?

John swallowed but softly nodded.

Good, now listen here you perverted, little nerd. How dare you demand that I lift even a finger for you when it is you that keeps getting yourself into these situations? You were overeager in your fight against the nightmare; you could have taken your time to hunt him, trip him, entangle him, set up a different kind of trap, but you did not do that. I gave you your powers, it is your responsibility to use them in a proper way. How will you learn if you don’t suffer any setbacks? Of course it’s not fair that you have to face all of this, but guess what, life isn’t fair. It’s what makes it interesting!

Lad, I am quite sorry that the nightmare took yer pet. Gaia forbade me from interfering, but I also have to say I agree with her. If we help you out whenever ye are in a pinch, then how will you ever grow into your full potential? I like ye, lad, ye know this. But I refuse to cut your potential short by interfering out of selfish interest. The best times for growth usually coincide with massive danger. I know that ye can do this. Maybe we went a wee bit overboard with the commentating, and I apologise, please know that I didn’t mean any harm with it.

John. Life as a hunter is tough. We don’t shrink back from danger, we embrace it, we push through it, and let it push us. Tonight is your first hunt alone, you are suffering, we get that. But this is not the time to blame anyone but yourself. You allowed your pet to be taken. You got yourself into the dangerous situations, and don’t forget, you managed to get yourself out of them just the same. I will agree with our smaller friend, we may have gone overboard. We will really tone it down now.

Now, let me get one thing absolutely clear with you though. You are a mortal; dozens of you die every day. You do not have the right to demand I do anything for you. I want you to realize this very, very clearly. I will not allow anyone to interfere in your life this drastically, I will not kill your enemies for you, I will not protect you if you almost die. All these things, you will have to do yourself.

John was silent after reading all of this. They had basically just told him that they would not help him, that he would have to depend on himself. While he knew it, he was still quite upset, as it got him nowhere. John shuddered, thinking how Jack must feel right now, hoping his little critter was still alive. It was at this moment that a new pop-up from Gaia appeared.

After this, I will do you no more favors. Follow this light, it will bring you back to the path you left. Good hunting, Mr Newman. Gaia.

John wiped his face, soot from the tree covering his hands as he saw a small light appear in front of him. He was about to set off after it when he saw one last pop-up.

It takes balls of steel to stand up to three gods at once, Mr Newman, I am slightly impressed. Now, get back to your hunt. A.

(hey, this was chapter 69, hehehe, well, at least the chapter had some form of dick joke in its name?)