The first new (at least plot-wise) chapter in over two years! Hopefully it doesn't suck! I at least had fun writing it, so I hope you have fun reading it!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson or any of the Percy Jackson characters.
Chapter 9: Brothers
Mars would have been delighted by the current state of his Field.
The hunters didn't waste much time creating a plan. At the current time, the most pressing issue was informing the camps of the danger that might await them. Artemis flashed away to Camp Half-Blood to meet with Chiron while Percy was left to do the same in the closer Roman camp. Thalia would lead her hunters down Mount Tam on her own, awaiting Artemis and Percy's return. If either of them wasn't back after two hours, that meant their respective camp was already under attack.
For the third time that day, Percy summoned a halo of fire and walked through the portal, only to be knocked off his feet by an explosion to his side. Holding his ears in pain, he looked up and saw the Twelfth Legion scrambling into defensive formations. The explosion had been the result of a siege onager mistakenly releasing, launching a flaming salvo towards the foot of the Berkeley Hills, where Percy had appeared.
He managed to pull his senses together and stand up, gazing upon the approaching monster horde. It was large, but not shockingly so. He had seen his fair share of fierce armies. The crew of the Princess Andromeda, Kronos's honor guard, the former Fifth Cohort, Gaea's Earthborn legion. They were frightening, sometimes due to their size, sometimes due to their viciousness, sometimes due to simply their skill.
The army that marched across the Field of Mars was none of those, yet all of those. It was large. Larger than the group that had attacked the hunters at Half-Blood Hill, larger than the group that ambushed them on Mount Tam, but not larger than Kronos or Gaea's army. It looked vicious. They marched in unison, led by a frontline of bloodthirsty ogres carrying torches that lit up the silent night, but they didn't have the emotionless fury of the Earthborn. It seemed dangerous. They marched carrying weapons held high, showing some semblance of intelligence and combat skill, but as a few stumbled out of line, Percy recognize they were far inferior to the orderly fallen Fifth Cohort and Kronos's closest followers.
They showed weakness. Perhaps it was due to them being split between the two camps? He wondered how Artemis was doing at the moment. Likely better than him considering his ears were still ringing.
He shook his head one more time and made his way to the Twelfth Legion, specifically towards the golden eagle figurehead that stuck out on the Roman army's frontline. He met up with Reyna and Frank who were pacing in front of the now orderly line of soldiers near the outskirts of New Rome. Reyna gave him a fierce glare.
"I told you to tell me of any potential dangers," she barked, almost snarling at him.
"I know, I know. But I swear I didn't expect this," he explained as fast as possible. "We were just doing recon on Mount Tam. We got ambushed by a small force, but it was way too small to be there to kill us. They just stalled us. We realized they must've been planning something, and Atlas told us that Ouranos planned on assaulting the camps."
"Ouranos… that is the Dark One?" Frank asked in confirmation.
"Yeah, I guess you'd know him as Uranus. Saturn's father, the old Lord of the Sky."
"I hate primordials," Frank sighed.
"We will discuss your findings after the battle. Right now, we have a war to fight," Reyna interrupted.
Percy agreed. He had never really meshed with the Roman system, but he respected its effectiveness and allowed the two praetors to organize the demigods and legacies who stood before them. Most of the army was older. He suspected that the newer legionnaires were sent within Terminus's barrier due to their inexperience and as a last line of defense should the city be breached.
Reyna began shouting commands in Latin. She was met with thunderous chorus of "Aves" and the stomping of iron shields on the earth. Frank joined in, providing inspirational words of encouragement. Percy's Latin was a little rusty, but he could've sworn he heard, "We will obliterate these fucking monsters who dare desecrate Mars' sacred field with their shitty paws!" Percy honestly didn't think the gentle giant had such vulgarity in him, but like usual he had been proven wrong.
Another chant rang into the night sky, "Quia gloria nostra populo! Quia gloria legionis! Quia gloria Romae!" For the glory of our people. For the glory of the legion. For the glory of Rome.
While that had been going on, Percy took another glance at the approaching enemy. They had advance about halfway across the Field of Mars. Deep behind their lines, Percy caught sight of something. Standing at about fifteen feet in height was the leader of the monsters. Behind his feet lied a path of grass that had withered away.
A Titan.
As two praetors finished up their speaking, they turned to Percy, looking expectantly. Did they want him to say something? He wasn't really a praetor anymore. He was hardly even a part of the legion. His best option in the battle would be to distance himself from the main skirmish, as his violent powers were dangerous and unpredictable. They would just break the Roman ranks, leaving gaps for the monsters to exploit. But if he didn't offer his support, they ran the risk of defeat at the hands of the Titan down below. While he couldn't recognize him, it was clear he was a threat on same level as Hyperion or Krios.
He had a brief memory of the Battle of Manhattan. At the exact moment all hope seemed to be lost, the demigod force had been assaulted by a Lydian drakon. He had hesitantly shouldered the duty of defeating the monster but had ultimately failed. It was only through Silena Beauregard's sacrifice that the children of Ares had been able to reinforce the Olympian forces and Clarisse had been spurred into a rage that could make her father envious.
He made up his mind. That wouldn't happen this time. He released his wings and raised his sword while giving his parting words to the Romans, "The big one's mine. Twelfth Legion Fulminata!"
He took to the skies to the sound of the loudest "Ave" yet and homed in on the Titan's position. Percy zipped across the barren field while concentrating on the relentless pounding of a giant waterfall. The Little Tiber roared to life, rushing out of its banks to meet his pursuit. Percy dipped low, grazing right above the horde of monsters, and the torrent decimated the unprepared cluster. The tidy ranks of the foe collapsed, giving the perfect opportunity for the Roman legion to begin their defensive. Flaming arrows pierced the black sky. In unison, they created an arc of death before slaughtering some unlucky creatures. A sound of thunder filled the night before a flash struck the earth, leaving charred grass and gold dust in its wake. The Eagle of the Twelfth Legion.
Percy continued to advance towards the Titan at breakneck speeds. In a matter of moments, he had landed, sending shockwaves through the earth, but the Titan held strong, not even stumbling. The displaced Little Tiber rumbled past Percy, aimed directly at the fifteen-foot deity. The Titan just smiled before holding out a hand, as if he was holding back a younger sibling. The rushing water split directly in front of him before harmlessly flooding the ground behind him.
Who was he? Not Oceanus. He had seen the Titan of the Ocean, who had a serpentine build, a long beard, and bull-like horns. The being in front of him seemed entirely human. He was cleanshaven but had unruly hair similar to Percy's. He was dressed in traditional Greek armor and carried a six-foot-long broadsword with a single hand.
Before Percy could interrogate the mysterious enemy on his identity, his foe's booming laugh echoed across the valley. An evil grin spread across his face, "Exactly what I have come to expect from you, Perseus. A truly tremendous display."
"Who are you? Ouranos's lapdog?"
"Nothing of the sort, son of Poseidon. While I follow the mantle of the True Lord of the Sky, like the ocean you find so comforting, I submit to no one."
"Good for you… but you didn't answer the question dumbass. Who are you?"
The Titan let out another laugh, "Very well mortal. I am the Titan of Destruction, Perses."
Percy face stayed neutral, "Is that supposed to impress me?"
"I do not care about how you view me. But you stand in my path, so you shall be extinguished."
"I'd like to see you try."
Percy kicked off his left leg, bringing his right leg around in a wide arc aimed at Perses' face. The Titan was quick to deflect the strike, leaving the son of Poseidon unbalanced. The deity struck his giant sword downward, forcing Percy to leap to the side. Percy concentrated on the fury of a hurricane and winds began to build around him. Harsh rain pounded the ground as the demigod feinted right before ducking under the Titan's muscular arm that moved to grab him. Percy moved his sword to make an upward slash at the Titan's armpit but only met the dark black broadsword as his attack bounced off with a harmless clang.
The hurricane winds coalesced into a large mass before shooting at the Titan, an disrupt his footing so the demigod could break his defense. The gale hit its mark, but the Titan stood strong, barely phased by the squall surrounding him.
"You're embarrassing me, little Perseus. I boasted on and on to Ouranos about your destructive prowess, but you haven't shown me anything impressive tonight. This amateur storm will not hurt me. I am destruction."
Percy gasped for breath. He had put a great deal of his energy into that storm and watching as his opponent ignored it like it was nothing was very demoralizing. He moved his blade up quick enough to deflect the Titan's attack before feeling the earth below him slightly shake. He stumbled as the ground moved beneath him, increasing in magnitude with every step the Titan took towards him.
"This is true destructive power," the Titan bragged, "It engulfs everything."
Percy saw that the Titan's own army was not immune to the earthquake he was causing, as monster and legionnaire alike fell to the ground as a result of the action.
Percy managed to stand up and regain his balance on the swaying ground. He shot a small fireball towards the Titan's chest, and while the immortal easily batted it away, it broke his concentration enough to halt the quake.
Not wanting to give him time to attack again, Percy dove forward with a flurry of attacks. The Titan matched him, moving with agility that didn't seem feasible with his hulking weapon. Percy's mind went on autopilot as years of sword fighting experience flowed from his fingertips. He could hear Luke's voice in the back of his head, telling him when to strike at an opening, when to parry, and finally, when to show his hand. He caught the Titan's sword and moved down the flat of his blade until he reached the hilt. With a harsh twist, Percy displayed his expertise over the first maneuver Luke ever taught him.
The broadsword was launched out of the Titan's hand and Percy quickly lit his unarmed hand ablaze and thrust towards the immortal's stomach. The flaming gut punch made contact, leaving Perses stunned for a moment, and Percy continued to pummel away.
After one final blow, the Titan stumbled backward breathing slowly.
The Titan gave a slight glare. Clearly, playtime was over. Percy tried to move in between the Titan and his forgotten weapon, but a harsh force collided with his chest, leaving him sprawling on the ground. The Titan slowly walked to his sword, scooping it up as Percy got to his feet one more time.
Percy lunged at the Titan of Destruction as he bent over, trying to catch the immortal off-guard, but Perses caught the blade with his own before grabbing Percy's waist with his free hand. Moments later Percy was flying through the air, his arms flailing wildly before finally crashing in a heap of wood. Percy groaned in pain, a shard of glass had sliced him just over his left eyebrow letting deep red blood fall down his face. He tried to move but found that he couldn't move one of his legs. He crawled out from under the rubble that coated the ground, taking note of his surroundings.
The barracks.
He had been thrown about half a football field's distance and collided with the Third Cohort. Pain raced through his aching muscles. It had been a busy day. He had done more in less than twenty-four hours than a majority of the heroes that continued to fight in the Field of Mars. His body urged him to rest. Just for a minute. Close his eyes.
But he couldn't yet. Perses climbed over the ruined building in front of Percy with a smirk coating his untouched face. He had barely broken a sweat. Percy tried to stand, but the pain emanating from his right thigh was too much to bear.
Ladon's bite.
With all the shit he had been through following his adventure through the Garden of the Hesperides, he had completely forgotten about his wound. The ambrosia was beginning to wear off, and he didn't have long before the poison spread through his body.
Perses was now just a few feet away from Percy's supine figure, ready to taunt the fallen hero.
"You and I are one in the same, little demigod. Born with incredible strength yet forced to be subservient to those who came before us."
"I am nothing like you!" Percy spat out in anger, glaring at the Titan that stood above him, slightly squinting his left eye.
"Are you now? I know more about you than you think mortal. You can't find your place anymore. You have surpassed those around you so much that you are no longer worth the risk to cooperate with. Yet you are still forced to bow to others will. On the inside, your hatred and anger burn to be released, but they stay bottled up to maintain some semblance of normalcy in your life. You are in pain, young one. I have felt it."
"I can deal with the pain. My pain is less important than what I cause others."
"Your body does not agree with you. It rebels against you, trying to force its way out. Perseus… you and I are brothers. We are chaotic. We are merciless. We are unrestrained. We are destroyers."
Percy hung his head in shame. Deep inside he knew the deity before him wasn't lying. He was a liability. He left nothing but ruin in his wake.
But he wasn't Perses.
He was Perseus.
It was a name from millennia ago. A hero who, much like him, had a tendency to hurt the people he loved. He was flawed. Percy was flawed.
But his flaws did not define him.
Percy raised his sword at the Titan, growling in indignant rage. "I am not the same monster as you. I restrain myself because I choose to. Because I love the people around me. I don't blindly serve someone because their dick is bigger than mine, I follow those I look up to for their generosity, their stability, their kindness."
He was now back on his feet, legs wobbling in fatigue. "I admit that I bring destruction. But destruction is a part of nature. It clears the way for new, better life. And you…" He readied his blade, "You need to be cleared."
The Titan would have laughed in delight at the demigod's defiance if he had not been forced to defend himself from an onslaught of attacks. Percy's smaller blade clashed with Perses' broadsword, and the Titan of Destruction grunted as he was pushed back momentarily. The son of Poseidon moved backward, before catching Perses fist with his hilt, knocking it off its intended path. In a fluid motion, Percy drew a knife from his waist and slashed at the immortal's arm as it completed its follow-through to the demigod's side. He continued the motion, turning inward as he grabbed hold of the Titan's extended wrist, twisting it around, like an elegant dancer twirling around with her partner. A harsh crack sounded as Percy bent the limb in an unnatural position.
Now Percy's back was right up against the Titan's torso, and he released its arm, letting it fall limply to the side. The Titan attempted to grab the small mortal in front of him but Percy stopped all of his movements by stabbing a flaming sword directly through Perses' thigh.
A roar boomed across the valley.
Percy grabbed the Titan's neck, using the leverage to flip backward onto its back, riding its shoulders in a way that reminded him of his first kill, the Minotaur. The son of Poseidon held on as the Titan of Destruction bucked around in pain before taking hold of its head with both hands.
"Destruction can be devastating, but it can also be forgiving. Your destruction will be short. Goodbye, brother." With a small twist, the immortal collapsed face first into the ground, defeated.
Percy stepped onto the limp body of Perses as it slowly began dissolving into golden dust. Adrenaline coursed through his blood and his rage bubbled to the surface.
Rage at his lack of peace. Rage at those who hurt his friends. Rage at the ones who had taken Annabeth.
Pure. Unadulterated. Rage.
"Show yourself coward!" he screamed skyward. "I will rip you apart bone for bone! Little Kronos and his puny scythe will be nothing compared to the torture I put you through."
A single tear fell down Percy's right eye while a drop of blood mirrored it on the left.
"Do you hear me Ouranos?! I am Perseus Jackson. The Savior of Olympus. The Bane of Titans. The Destroyer!"
He collapsed.
(A/N) And so ends the first new update to this story in forever. In case you haven't caught on, the idea of destruction and monstrosity are central themes of this story. Making Percy's first real challenge of the story against the Titan of Destruction is very intentional. But you probably knew that already, you smarty-pants!
Sorry it got kinda melodramatic with the dialogue, but it was fun to write. And I hope I didn't rip off the Empire Strikes Back too much.
Thanks for reading!
