Chapter 9
The Battle
Flashback
I looked over to the left, dodging through small monsters charging towards me. Nice time to have my sword. I prayed that wouldn't get hurt before reaching my cabin, when I heard a familiar voice call out to me, "PERCY! LOOK OUT!" Then, it hit me. Literally.
End of flashback
The 3 foot long stainless steel blade slammed against my chest as the hilt landed in my palm. I was launched back. The sight of the battlefield and monsters scooping up poor demigods made me feel uncomfortable. While I was in midair, I noticed that the sword turned more... Bronze. Then, I thought about the concept of the sword and got an idea. I felt like time slowed down and I closed my eyes.
Forward.
"INCOMING-ING-ING!" I yelled in horror as my sword dragged me across the muddy field and occasionally, a rock was struck against my chest and I slowly felt blood escape my skin. I winced and commanded the devil blade to stop. It finally stopped and I flinched when I tried to stand up. I collapsed back onto the mud and a groan escaped my bleeding lips. "Not a good idea." I mumbled as I stabbed the soil with the sword, mumbling curses in ancient Greek. Using the support of the blade, I stood up, the world spinning as a throbbing sensation rang in my head. It felt like my brain was banging against my skull. I rubbed my temples and got my blade from the soil. I stabilised myself and looked around.
I heard some grunting behind me. I gulped and turned around. A 9 feet tall minotaur looked at me. He tilted his big bull head and snorted, as if saying, "Mmmm... Delicious fresh seafood."
"Uh oh." I muttered. The minotaur got on all fours and charged, hooves placing dents in the muddy soil. I gulped and pulled out my sword from the ground. I backed up a little, waiting for the impact. Finally, it stood up on it's hind legs, roared and attacked. While it swung it's gigantic fist towards me, I rolled in between it's legs as its fist caused a mini crater on the ground. It quickly turned around and stared at me, eyes steaming with anger. I charged and went for the Minotaur's leg. As I ran towards it, I skidded across the mud and swung my sword, sweat stinging my eyes.
It howled in pain as Ichor oozed out of it's right leg. It got down in one knee and stared at me, eye gleaming with anger. It stood up again and it's shadow covered me. It scooped me up effortlessly when I dropped my sword on the floor. "NOOO!" I yelled as I reached out helplessly at the glowing blade. I growled in anger as I slammed my fist down on the Minotaur's leathery fist. It brought me up to its face as it snorted hot air into my face, causing my hair to get even messier. I tried pulling myself out of the Minotaur's grip. I had some time to do so as apparently, this Minotaur like to examine his dinner first. I growled in anger as I concentrated to command the sword to 'fly back to papa'.
However, the throbbing in my head always interrupted my focus. I prayed hard as the Minotaur brought his hand closer to his ugly face. His foul smelling breath caused me to gag. I was about to give up on hope when I heard an uncanny voice.
"Percy! Catch!" Eugenio yelled from below. I reached out as Eugenio threw the sword up. Nevertheless, the sword almost killed me, but ironically, it saved my life. The sword landed nicely in my palm as the tip was inches away from my face. I growled and stabbed the sword into the Minotaur's now golden fist. It bellowed in a fit of rage as he dropped me. 9 feet down. I fell backwards helplessly when my short parkour training session took over me. I flipped over, so if I fell, I would land facing downwards. As the ground approached me, I tucked my feet inwards and reached out, trying my best to keep my sword in my hand. Then, I rolled over to avoid my face from being turned into a Minotaur's face. I crawled backwards as I looked at the Minotaur stumble backwards and crashed into some trees.
I stood up again and examined the wounds on my chest. It stung, but adrenaline numbed the pain. Eugenio jogged over, "Are you okay?" I nodded weakly and looked back to the Minotaur. When a heavy thought struck me. I stared at the Minotaur getting up and my mind was flashed back to the time when I was 12, fighting a Minotaur in front of Camp Half Blood. My mind went overdrive, letting me experience my emotional breakdown at that point of time, soon, I was brought away from reality.
"Percy? Percy! Are you okay?" Eugenio asked, snapping his fingers in front of my face. I wanted to scream, but I couldn't my voice was trapped in my throat and I could not be brought back. I wanted to move. But my legs were disobeying me. I was conscious, but unconscious at the same time. I knew what was going on, what was in danger, but I felt helpless. Correction: I WAS helpless. "Percy!" Eugenio shook me, his voice echoing in my head. Snap out of it! The Minotaur was the past. Now, you're a trained professional! Come on! A tiny voice urged me as the Minotaur slowly recovered. But there was another voice, much deeper, overpowering my mind with it's negative thoughts: You'll never survive this attack. You have failed, why bother trying? I was having a battle with myself. Mentally.
I heard Eugenio cursing next to me before charging towards the Minotaur in frustration. I witnessed everything: The battle, the struggle, and finally, the victory. As I watched helplessly from a dangerously, close distance. My inner self grumbled and try to take hold of myself, literally. I tried to connect my mental self and physical self together and help Eugenio with the Ichor covered Minotaur. Eugenio was slicing furiously at the Minotaur's legs while it was swinging its arms frantically while howling in pain every once in a while. As the Minotaur was about to take it's downfall, Eugenio was too worn out to deliver the final blow. Eugenio stumbled back and forth around the Minotaur. My inner me grumbled, as the negative thoughts got louder: Give up, Percy. It's not too late to escape.
No. I am not going to give up. So shut up! I finally managed to 'get back into my body' and took full control. Eugenio was now on the ground, panting while the Minotaur bellowed in anger, charging at him. I quickly brought my sword up and broke into a run. I let out a battle cry to alert the Minotaur. Needless to say, he stopped and looked at me. I jumped, arched my back backwards and STAB! The Minotaur howled as it fell to it's knees while I tried to balance on it's back with my sword still stuck in the Minotaur's back. It crumpled into dust as I fell down. Eugenio stood up and walked towards me.
"You okay? What happened back there?" Eugenio asked, pulling me up. I shook my head, "I'll explain later. Come on, the others need help." He nodded and we charged into the field of death. Slicing through small monsters, we finally ended the battle as monsters hastily retreated. I dusted off dust from my shoulder.
"Where did that come from? Don't you have some sort of protective barrier, or something?" I asked, frustrated. Eugenio's eyes widened and quickly ran to the entrance of the Bureau. He stuck his hand through the entrance and a hole formed, surrounding Eugenio's arm. Then after a while, cracks formed at his arm. "Uh oh..." He mumbled. He quickly pulled his arm out.
"We have to inform the Mentor." He said, eyes filled with fear.
We rushed off when I realised... "This is just like the time Thalia..." I mumbled before choking on my last words, holding back the emotional memory of camp.
"Did you say something?" Eugenio turned his around, still jogging. I shook my head as sweat was sent flying off my face. He shrugged and continued jogging forward. We finally reached the HQ and entered. We walked down the hallway and approached the two doors. "Wait for it..." Eugenio held up his hand and mumbled softly. After a few seconds, the hall started to tremble. I stepped back as a the doors moved apart and cracks formed. Soon, the crack widened and a passageway was formed.
"Cool." I mumbled. We were about to enter when Neil rushed into the HQ.
"Guys! We have a situation. Monsters... and Templars. We can hardly hold them off." Neil panted. Eugenio's eyes widened.
"I'll go help, Percy report to the Mentor. NOW." Eugenio commanded while running down the hallway. I nodded and Neil tilted his head.
"Later." I gave him a quick one word reply and rushed into the passage way. As our feet touched the ground, torches hung on the wall lit up. Cliche. Finally, at the end of the passageway, there was a narrow gap. Both of us squeezed through the gap and we finally reached a room. Not just ANY room. A HUGE room. It was at least 5 storeys high and the room was round, somehow. There were bookshelves stacked up right up to the ceiling and there was a tall ladder leaning against a bookshelf. Right smack in the middle of the room was a huge, puffy chair and in front of it was a fireplace. The fire crackled gently as Neil stepped forward.
"Mentor," He bowed.
"The barricade surrounding the Bureau is crumbling. There are also monsters and Templars invading the area. We seek for your help." I blurted, forgetting my manners. After a brief moment of silence, a slim figure stood up from the chair and turned around.
"I am afraid I am too old to fight, however, I can deal with the barricade and the invasion with the Apple of Eden." Neil's eyes lit up with hope but his smile faded once the Mentor continued, "Unlucky for you, I do not have the proper genes to wield it. I am far away from the bloodline." He walked over to a chest hidden behind some books and opened it. Then, a blinding glow filled the room. Neil and I winced and took a step back. The glow faded once the Mentor picked it up and walked towards us. "See?" He sighed in disappointment.
"Percy. You can wield it. I'm sure." Neil said confidently. "If you can access memories and enter the world of the past through the Animus, you'll be able to wield the Apple of Eden. Not guaranteed that it would be powerful. But you must be careful. Templars may grab it. That is their second priority. Currently."
"Maybe. But you can, too. You know, your father and all..." I said, immediately regretting those words. "But now's not the time to discuss this. They need help on the battlefield." The Mentor reached out and I took the Apple of Eden carefully. Surprisingly, it was lightweight and smooth. It was a faint golden colour and have some curved lines carved onto it. Basically, it looked like a cold, hard ball of steel. However, it didn't feel like how it looked like. Honestly, I did not know how to use it... I am supposed to throw it at people or something?
When my skin came in contract with the Apple of Eden it projected a faint glow and a wave of flashbacks raced across my mind. I flinched at some disturbing scenes and followed Neil as he raced down the passageway again. When we were about to reach the crack where there was a binding light, it started to close. Neil panicked and launched, fitting right through the crack as I followed. Both of us rolled onto the ground and the crack fully closed. Neil grunted and mumbled some curses. Both of us exited the HQ hastily and came face to face with the gruesome battlefield. There was puddles of blood, Ichor and heaps of dust. Demigods were battling monsters while Assassin's ran around, being chased by monsters while some were fighting Templars, who as usual, wore huge, steel armour.
I grunted and suddenly, it felt like the Apple of Eden took over me. I concentrated and held up the Apple of Eden. After a brief moment, there were lights as thin as laser shooting out from the sphere. It looked like a gold laser show that made people... cringe? Templars who were in the middle of a battle dropped their weapons and fell to their knees, while Monsters simply crumbled to dust. The Templars eyes were wide open and their hands were pressed against their head, as if they had a horrible headache after a hangover. One by one, they crumbled as if they were rag dolls. Soon, my arm wore out and I couldn't take it any more, the Apple was seeping my energy, bit by bit.
I finally let go of the Apple as it rolled onto the ground. I fell to my knees and rubbed my shoulder. Neil quickly went for the Apple and dived for it. It grabbed it and a bead of sweat rolled down his forehead. The Apple started to glow brightly, brighter than when I held it.
"Percy! Come 'ere." He said, slurring his words. I got up, shaking. He reached out, "Put you hand on the Apple." I gulped and placed my hand on it. Then, the Apple became a ball of light. It was no longer a ball of steel. I quickly took my hand away and the light became fainter.
"Well, battle's over. Time to bring the wounded in. On the other hand, we need to put both of you into the Animus. Ready for a little time travelling?" Eugenio said, jogging towards us with a smirk.
A.N: Hope you have enjoyed chapter 9! It's mostly action (to me)! Sorry I have been late on updating... I just got Assassin's Creed 3 (I know, I'm late) and finished it recently. Probably going to start Assassin's Creed 4 soon, just finished the introduction. Anyways, I'll try to update next week.
