Ch.37
Percy stood at the top of the hill under the stars with his hand behind his back holding Andromeda looking at the castle. He had the messenger from Olympus stay on his camp, if he return with a reply, Percy refuse to help Jason until he destroy the castle in front of him. The Queen will keep nagging him on his dream.
"What do you think we should do?" Percy ask
Lucretia examine the castle thinking of a way to penetrate it. If they don't take down the barrier they'll be at the mercy of the archers and if they attack on air the ballistae along with other creatures that can fly will be troublesome.
"Silvia could only hold the barrier for a short amount of time so if we are to scale the walls, we have to move fast" Lucretia reply
Percy nodded "Correct"
She look at his back with worry "Sir, is it wise to defy Juno?"
The issue have been bothering her, she would follow whatever decision he make but she couldn't help but feel worry for him. Defying a Goddess can have consequence and defying this particular Goddess will be disastrous. She's worried that something bad would happen to him.
"No, its not but If I'm to kill the Giant, I have to eliminate necessary factors" Percy glared at the castle "I can't have her interfering everytime I'm about to kill a Giant"
Andromeda humm
He had told her everything about the sword, how he created and its powers. Every time Lucretia look at it, she feels uneasy even thought it will protect Percy.
Percy sigh "She's really impatient"
Soon, the goddess will fall to his hand.
Percy sat on a chair in the Empire State Building observation deck looking at the burning city of Manhattan while drinking tea. He look at the woman he despised the most to his right.
"It's been a while since you invited me into a tea party" Percy said
Gaea smiled at him "You truly are a remarkable creature Percy Jackson, creating a weapon that could truly destroy immortals"
Percy cursed under his breath, he wanted to keep Andromeda a secret for a little while longer "I'm guessing your son's hand never recovered?"
"Indeed" Gaea nodded
"Well tell him, I will finish the job soon and don't bother asking where the book is I already destroyed it"
Gaea chuckled "No, you didn't"
Percy raised an eyebrow "What make you say that?"
Her face darken as if she's remembering a bad memory "Because I would have done it long ago if I could"
Percy have thought about the book a lot, he has this nagging feeling that it was created for a purpose, not just for power but something important. That's why he told the gods he destroyed it, something inside of him told him it must not fall into another's hand.
"Why did your husband created such a thing?" Percy ask
A look of surprise came to Gaea's face "You could read the writing?"
Percy curse himself inside his head for letting it slip "No, your son mention it"
she look at him with suspicion. There are only few beings in the world that could read that writing and most of those beings are asleep.
Percy look at the burning city and sip his tea ignoring the look of suspicion Gaea is giving him. He should really be careful what he says around her, the woman is cunning, one false move and it will be the doom of him.
"Other than informing me of your discovery of my secret, why else did you call me here?"
She gave him a sly grin and he look at her with a confused expression. His eyes slowly widened and he lunged at her.
"YOU BITCH!"
Before he could put his hands on her neck he woke up on his tent gasping surrounded by his General and Captains.
"How long have I been sleeping?"
Lucretia look at him with relieved but her expression looks grim as if she's about to deliver a bad news "You've been sleeping for two days Sir"
"FUCK!" He threw his sheets away and stood up. He walk out of his tent followed by everyone and look at the orange sky. Gaea put him into a coma without him noticing to delay him.
Everyone look at Percy's back with his sea green tattoo. Lucretia blush at the sight of him half naked but tried not to show it.
Percy run his hand through his thick dark hair, he closed his eyes trying to hold back his anger.
"Is everything ready for battle?" he said with his eyes still close
"With your command My Lord" Kane answered
He thought what he could do about the situation, His plan was to end this battle on the first day so they'll have time to give Jason reinforcement. The sun is about to come down and tomorrow Porphyrion will reach Jason.
He's gonna have to make best of the situation "Lucian prepare another set of Pegasus"
Lucian bow and run off to obey his command
"What are you planning sir?" Lucretia ask
"We're gonna destroyed them tonight"
Percy crouch behind a bush at the side of the castle five feet away from the barrier and behind him are Lucretia, Silvia and Claus. Percy look up at the castle wall and a Cyclope with two hammer's strap across his back was standing on top. He look at the others behind him. Lucretia have her slightly curl reddish dark hair in a ponytail, she has a bag and a sword strap on her back and a knife strap on her left arm. Just like Lucretia, Silvia have her auburn brown hair on a ponytail and she has a dagger on her thigh and a sword on her back, both of them are wearing black leather pants and jacket. Claus pulled his dark hair and he has a broad sword strap on his back, on his belt he has a grappling hook that Percy gave him. The grappling hook were the last Leo made before they left. Percy only has two of them on his armory since they were last minute.
Percy use the mist as a cover to get close to the castle without the guards noticing them.
"Remember the plan, Silvia and I will look for the magic circle and cancel the barrier while Lucretia and Claus will disable the Ballistae"
All of them nodded then Percy look back at the guard and saw him walk away.
"Let's go" he whispered and they sprint towards the barrier. They crouch down again in front of it.
"Silvia!" Percy whispered
The daughter of Trivia touch the invisible barrier and closed her eyes. Her eyebrows scrunched up with concentration. She made a hole in the barrier big enough for them to slip in.
She open her eyes and said "It's done"
They immediately sprint towards the wall before the next guard comes, as soon as they were all in Silvia let the hole close to avoid attentions.
They sat with their back against the wall and waited for the next guard to rotate.
Lucretia closed her eyes and took a deep breath to calm herself.
"Don't worry, you won't fail" Percy said
Lucretia look at him, He wore a tight dark jacket with no hood, dark pants and black boots. He has a bow and arrow on his back and Andromeda morph into a short sword strap horizontally on his lower back. He also has knifes on both of his lower legs. His hair is on ponytail with two strand of bangs on either side is let down and one of them is braided with a feather attach to it.
Feeling more confident, she nodded.
"You all ready?" Percy whispered
They nodded and they all pulled up their mask that covered half of their face. They waited for Percy's signal, he has his eyes closed and took out his grappling gun from his belt.
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Percy stood up and face the wall, he look up and fire his grappling gun. He wrap his arm around Lucretia's waist and they went up. They reach the top and went over the railing. The circular wall have a total five towers where the ballistae are located and the castled itself is very grand where a queen might live.
He look down on the ward
"Since when did they have Catapults?" Silvia ask
"They must have build them after the first battle" Claus suggested
There are three catapults and one more is being built by three cyclopes.
Percy look at one of the window on the right and follow it across.
He look at the tower to his right "Let's go"
Percy sprint to the tower followed by everyone, they reach the doorway and Percy was about to open it but He heard footsteps inside.
He put his back on the right side of the door with Silvia besides him and across him are Lucretia and Claus.
Percy slowly took out an arrow and waited. The door open and two chatting empousai walk out. Percy put his hand on the one on his side mouth and stab the arrow on her chest. The empousai disintegrated and he put the arrow back to his holster.
Claus did the same on the other one and Lucretia stab her with her knife. They went inside the tower then upstairs, they reach a wooden hatch leading to the top where the Ballistae is. Percy open it slightly and took a peek, he look around until he found the Ballistae with two telkhine looking at the direction where his army is.
One of them sniff the air "Do you smell something?"
"Sorry about that bro" the other one reply
A look of disgust came to the dog's face.
Percy slowly open the hatch and Lucretia hold it for him as he slip out. Kneeling down, he took out his knife from his ankle and held it on reverse grip. Lucretia walk out and kneel beside Percy, she took out her knife and look at him.
He nodded
They slowly and quietly walk behind the monsters. They put their hands on their mouth and slit their throat at the same time.
Silvia and Claus walk out of the hatch.
"Let's get to work" Percy said in a muffled voice because of the mask. Lucretia kneel down in front of the ballistae and took out a bomb from her bag. Percy look down on the window before, he took out his bow and fire an arrow with a wire right above the window. The arrow embedded itself on the wall and he tied the rope into a pole.
He look at Lucretia "Fire the signal the moment the barrier come down"
She nodded
He look at Silvia and nodded at her
She nodded back
He look down and there are five guards doing patrol. He waited until they were gone
Percy put his bow over the wire and slide down. He let go of his bow then slip in on the window. He landed inside and then fall into one knee, he look to his left and found a Dracanae looking at him with wide eyes. In a lightning fast speed, he drew Andromeda with his free hand and slash at her neck with one motion. The monster couldn't even scream as she disappear from existance. Percy sheathe Andrimeda as he look to his left and right. Silvia slip out of the window. There's only two ways right or left
"Which way, Sir?" Silvia ask
Percy search the Dracanae's memory and he pointed to the left "This way"
They made their way until they reach a corner, Percy raise his hand and they stop. Percy took a peek and saw an earthborn guarding a door.
Silvia wave at the earthborn and it walk towards her. The monster reach the corner and Percy stab it with both of his knifes. It turn into dust and he sheathe his knife. They walk to the door and open it. They look around the room full of weapons
"Their armories" Silvia said
"Look for any explosives"
Silvia nodded and search the place, after setting up the explosives they made their way back.
They quietly walk the dark hallway that's only lit by torch.
"This place reminds me of Tartarus" Percy said, he stop and look out of the window "Except for the windows" he continued on
They continued on walking when they reach a plight of stairs that goes up and to their right are another stairs that lead down. Percy look ahead and there's a light coming off upstairs then he heard something to his right, they back off.
A cyclopes went upstairs and he was about to go up when he saw a girl wearing all black smiling at him.
The Cyclopes frown "Who are you?" he started walking towards the girl. Percy drop down on the Cyclopes shoulder, the monsters look up with a confuse expression. Before he could speak, Percy stab his throat and slit it. It turn into dust and landed on the ground.
They went downstairs until they were on a large room with 3 pillars on either side going forward and have torch on each one. At the end of the room is a doorway and Percy could hear footsteps coming from the other side.
Percy look at Silvia and nodded at the pillars.
She nodded and hid behind on one of the right pillars and he hid on the left pillars. Percy listen to the monsters and estimated there are about five of them. They reach the room and as they move, he move around his pillar and the monsters past him, he unsling his bow and put an arrow, across him is Silvia.
He took a peek and they were Earthborns, Percy nodded at Silvia
She sprinted towards the monsters, the last one turn back but before he could make a noise Silvia's dagger is already in his stomach. Percy shot two arrows hitting two and Silvia slash at another monster's face. The last one tried to run away and warn the others but Percy shot him before he could take the stairs.
Percy slowly open the door and took a peek making sure no one is there. Percy open the door and look around the courtyard, in the middle is fountain with a statue of Khione under the moonlight. Percy look around the courtyard, according to monster's memory the magic circle is around here but that's far as his memories goes. He look at the fountain and then at the statue. He search for any button that would activate anything while Silvia look around for any one. They heard a machine clattering and they hid in the shadows, Silvia hid under the bush and Percy fire his grappling hook on the ceiling and went up.
The fountain move to the side and open a way that goes down. Two people walk out talking.
"Good Job, delaying Jackson" Percy would never forget the voice, it's Khiones
"Thank you Milady" a familiar voice reply
A Telkhine burst from the door underneath him"Lady Khione, Intruder were discovered at the towers!"
"What?!" They run inside the castle, just as he thought. Khione was the girl and he was a little bit surprise to see Steven running with them. They close the door, Steven was the one who put him to sleep for two days, he's gonna have to visit the guy sometimes.
Percy drop down on the ground, he look at the door and wanted to chase after them but the fountain is closing.
"Lord Perseus" Silvia said waiting in front of the closing fountain
Percy cursed and followed Silvia inside.
They went down until they saw light coming off at the bottom. They slowly come down and look at the room before them, they stayed in the shadow as they look at the two monsters guarding a door at the end of the room. Percy took out his bow and shoot the Telkhine on the right. The arrow embedded itself on its chest and then turn into dust. The Cyclope look at the Telkhine at his right.
"Huh?"
An arrow embedded itself on his eye and then on his chest. They walk towards the door
"For something so important, It's not guarded very good" Silvia said
"That's because they're not expecting us to sneak our way in" Percy reply.
They reach the door and open it. Two Empousai look at them with wide eyes
"What are-" Silvia threw her knife hitting her on the chest and Percy shot the other one on the head. They're in a circular room that has no window and on the floor is a glowing circle with a star in the middle.
"Do your work Silvia" Percy said
She knelt in front of the circle and touch the ground with her hands. She close her eyes and concentrate. The circle started to glow brightly until the light filled the room and then it disappeared along with the circle.
Silvia collapse on the ground panting. She slowly stood up and then fell again. Percy only look down on her without concern whatsoever, he taught them not to give up even if they've been stab four times. A minor exhaustion won't stop them from fighting.
Silvia stood up completely, her face pale and sweat on her forehead. She look at him and he smiled at her
"Nice Job Silvia" he said
Silvia smiled with a proud look in her eyes
Percy tilt his head toward the door "Let's go"
Silvia nodded
The moment the barrier came down the towers exploded with Greek fire, Percy's army start firing their Catapults at the castle and Pegasus flew around dropping bomb at the Catapults on the ward and destroying monsters along the way.
A black dragon landed on the ward, it roared and swipe away monsters with its claws and wreck havoc while bombs are being drop and balls of fire sailing towards the castle. The dragon look up and Harpies are flying around, it open its mouth and breath fire incinerating them. Archer's from the top of the wall fired their arrow at the dragon but its skin is too hard, without the Ballistae they can't wound it.
The Dragon saw the Sphinx and it roared at it. The dragon unfurl its wing and flew towards the Sphinx.
They went back up and since they didn't need to be quiet anymore Percy blast the fountain with a pillar of water. They went outside and look at the back of the castle, a flash of green and explosion came from the front, then a roar of a dragon. The ground shook and a Sphinx flew past them and went to the front. Green fire balls hit the wall of the castle itself. The towers burn with Greek fire along with the Ballistae. Percy went inside the castle followed by Silvia, they past the room and went back upstairs. The castle shook and dust came down from the ceiling as fire balls hit their mark. Percy look up and monsters are passing the stairs probably heading towards the armory, he took out the red button and press it. Explosion and smoke came from the left. They took the stares they saw, Percy kick down a door and burst into a grand hall with a stair going up to the second floor and monsters are running around panicking.
As the dragon wreck havoc, Lucretia took the chance and run to the gates. She killed monsters along the way and then the Dragon flew toward the sphinx when she reach the gates.
Lucretia open the gate and demigods poured in the burning ward with battle cries, the catapults have stop firing and Pegasus swoop down and fire their repeated crossbow at the monsters on the ground, and the dragon fought the sphinx in the sky. The army split up, a group head to the top of the wall to kill the archers and the other make their way towards the castle itself. Their battle cries filled the air as they massacre monsters while running to their destinations.
Monsters poured out of the door across Percy and Silvia. the main door on his left open and his army poured inside lead by Kane with a mighty battle cries, Lucretia saw Percy and she run to him. She has cuts all over her body and blood on her forehead. All around them monsters and demigods fought, Percy pulled down his mask
"Silvia join Kane"
Silvia nodded and join the fight. He look at Lucretia "come with me" they made their way to the stairs while killing monsters.
After killing the sphinx, the black dragon landed on the very top of the burning castle, it roared and breath fire in the sky.
Percy kick a grand door and found himself in a bright throne room with hole on the roof and a burning ball on the ground. a red carpet is on the ground leading up to the throne itself. Sitting on the chair is Khione with a look of hate and disdain.
"Jackson" she growled
Percy took off his bow, his holster and knifes and let them fall on the ground. He took Andromeda in his hand, then spin it, and it morph back into a katana. Percy slowly drew her and his eyes slowly turn dark.
Andromeda humm and vibrate in his hand eager for a blood of a Immortal. Percy handed the blood red sheathe to Lucretia without taking his eyes off Khione as if she'll escape if he take his eyes off for a second.
She stood up from her throne and took out a sword.
"I curse the day you were brought into this world" Khione said
Percy smirk
They charge at each other and met in the middle. Khione roared and slash down, and Percy met her blade with slash of his own. Their swords lock together and Khione glared down on Percy who is smirking. Percy push her back and slash down. Khione block his sword and Percy kick her stomach. Khione grunted and stumble back, then Percy slash down again. His blade graze Khione's right eye and she scream in agony, she grip her right eye and when she let go, it was falling apart like burn paper. The anger in her eye have disappeared replace by fear. Percy strike again and she barely block the attack. Their blade lock together again and Percy grab her wrist then pulled and threw her. Khione fell on her knees.
"It's time to end this" Percy said, he circle around until she's kneeling down in front of him. The goddess glared at him.
"You're a monster!" she said with hate
Percy smiled wickedly at her "It's Too bad you've figured that out too late"
He slashed at her chest and her head thrown back and scream at the heaven, Percy put Andromeda on her mouth and stab down silencing her. The Goddess turn into black dust and swirling around Andromeda.
Percy swing his sword around as if to wipe off her essence. Percy look at Lucretia
"Are you afraid of me?" he ask
She slowly shook her head "Never"
She walk to him and held out the scabbard. Percy took it and sheathe Andromeda, he look at the throne and sat down. He put Andromeda on his lap and his temple on his right fist.
He sigh and closed his eyes
Lucretia thought if he has a crown on his head, he'll look like a dark king. Percy stayed like that for a while until Kane burst into the throne room. He knelt in front of him, he didn't know why, usually he'll just bow but it seems appropriate to kneel.
Percy kept his eyes closed at all times.
"Speak" he said
"The enemies are all annihilated, We awaits your orders."
Percy open his eyes and look at the white ceiling.
"Burn it to the ground" he said coldly
"As you wish, Lord Perseus"
"FIRE!"
Fire balls sail to the castle and exploded, they continued on firing until the whole place is burning and Percy watch as it crumble.
"Sir!" someone called behind him, he turn around with his hand behind his back and Kane and one of his soldier is dragging a man covered in dirt to him. They threw him in front of Percy and the man knelt. He look up at Percy
"Steven" Percy said
Kane move behind Steven "We found him trying to steal one of our Pegasus"
Percy tilt his head "You came to my camp acting as if you own the place, you put me on a coma and now you dare to steal from me?"
Steven sneered at him "Let me go, Jackson or I'll have you executed"
Percy raise an eyebrow "now, you're threatening me?"
"You're a fool Percy Jackson, you ruin everything!"
"What did I do now?"
Steven glared at him "I was under the order of the Queen to infiltrate Khione's force as a spy and gain information from them while your in Central Greece but you fucking idiot refuse to obey orders. The Queen had me go on with the plan, I went to the castle the night I arrived and they told me to prove myself by delaying you and when you wake up, you're suppose to go hurrying on to Central Greece helping Jason but nooo, you have to be a fucking dumbass and attack the castle"
Percy thought about it for a while "how do I know your telling the truth?"
He rolled his eyes "I swear on the river styx"
Thunder rang across the sky
"Now let me go!" he yelled and then smirk at him "I'll have you punish for this, maybe I can even have you're precious army taken away from you, then I might ask the Queen to give them to me"
Percy just stare at him, by the now the whole army is gathering around them.
without taking his eyes off him, Percy said "Lucretia"
Lucretia stood beside him "Sir?"
"Write a letter to Olympus" he look down on Steven with emotionless face and cold eyes
"What should I put sir?" Lucretia ask, while one of the soldiers handed her a paper and a pen.
"Dear Hera/Juno
I must inform you with great sadness that your servant Steven have recently died in his valiant effort to obtain crucial information from the enemies of our great Pantheon. His bravery shall be engrave in our hearts, his memory shall be always remembered and his great sacrifice shall be written in history so that the future generations of Demigods will take courage from his deeds.
P.S. If you do something like this again, I will go back to Olympus and destroy all of your temples.
Your Beloved Nephew
Perseus Jackson"
Steven look at him with wide eyes as Lucretia wrote what he said into a paper
"Are you mad?"
Percy shrugged "Just a little bit"
Steven have a look of outrage, he was about to open his mouth but Kane snap his neck. He fall to the ground and two soldiers came forward and drag the body away. In the background the burning castle exploded.
Lucian came forward "Lord Perseus, we are ready to depart"
Percy nodded and then look at Kane "Go back to my castle and wait for my orders there"
Kane bowed and before he left
"Also don't wait for me and have Claus funeral" he said
Kane nodded and walk away.
After cleaning himself, and wore his armor.
Percy walk toward the ten Pegasus that are line up in front of his dragon. Each Pegasus have sideways repeater crossbow on each side of their neck that are attach into a collar. Each crossbow have string on their trigger attach to one of the stirrup so if you pull it the crossbows will fire automatically. The crossbow are attach to each other in a circular shape kind of like rein and the ammo case are on the top side of the crossbow so that it's easier to reload. The back of the horse have saddle bags where the bombs and ammo are.
Percy smiled and scratch his dragon's neck "Hello Inferno, I hope your in the mood to fly because we have a long way ahead of us"
Inferno tug Percy's head and he laugh. Percy sat on his back and look at his aerial force in front of him, Lucian is in the front and Lucretia is beside him. Behind Percy is the sun rising signaling a new day for battles. Flying is the only way they could reach Jason in time.
"We would be heading to Central Greece, our objective is to destroy Porphyrion along with his army"
His soldiers put on their spartan mask.
Lucretia raised her sword "FOR LORD PERSEUS!"
The others repeated the cry
Inferno unfurl his wings and shot to the sky followed by ten Pegasus.
Never mind about the name I just decided.
Review : )