Narrator / January 13th
"So fate grants our rematch" Layton stated as his both armor and personality flickered in between dark and light.
Percy uncapped Riptide and readied it. "I won't lose this time"
Unwillingly, Layton pulled out his ball of Vibranium, and it contorted into his dual-sided blade, recently given the name of Gipsy. Though he had gone for the beach earlier, the darkness within him took over and lead him here to face Percy one last time.
Finally, the flickering of his armor came to a stop on black. His cape flowed with the wind, and the red insignia of a dragon on his helmet glistened in the sun, which nearly made his eyes visible through his visor. Percy took his stance, ready to meet halfway and engage. Physically, he was ready, but mentally... that was different.
The two slowly descended the curve in sync and met halfway, standing about ten feet away from each other. As each second passed by, their demigod instincts continuously exponentiated until they were almost excited for the fight. Well, a quarter of them actually were.
In the sky, dark clouds rolled in and blocked out the sun, making it look as if it was about to rain. An aura of fire surrounded Layton, and it was so hot that Percy instantly began to sweat.
As Gipsy and Riptide clashed, the ground shook with such force that rocks momentarily levitated above the ground. Layton thrusted his sword forward and Percy rolled behind him, recovering fast and slashing his back. Layton quickly spun around and swung horizontally.
Percy blocked the strike and countered with his own, Riptide's tip scratching his enemy's armor. After having been repaired a few times now, it wasn't completely Vibranium, thus it had weaknesses. Layton stepped forward and swung wildly, nearly cutting Percy each time. In return, Percy kicked the side of his leg and made him nearly loose balance. Using that, he slashed him across the chest and disarmed him of Gipsy, which was sent skidding across the hard ground a few feet away.
Despite that, Layton was blocking Percy's strikes with his forearms, which was just durable enough to take the damage. Gipsy came flying back to Layton's hand, and he slashed it downwards. Percy swung Riptide up and used the flat of the blade to stop Gipsy and resist it.
"No point in resisting" Layton said before kicking Percy back
Gipsy and Riptide clashed again several times, small showers of sparks flying off each time. Percy was working to slowly back Layton up until he would be flush against the curve of the bowl-shaped crater, and that would be his opportunity to strike.
Ultimately, it worked and Layton found himself with his back pressed against the wall and having to swat strikes from Riptide away. He stabbed the bottom half of his dual-sided blade into the wall behind him and ducked underneath a slash from Percy. Quickly, he stood back up and rocked Percy in the face with a good punch before retrieving his sword.
Layton lunged forward, attempting to stab Percy through the chest, but it was predicted and Riptide narrowly deflected Gipsy. Each time their swords clashed, the tiny rocks on the floor levitated ever so slightly more away from the ground until one strong clash cracked them all in half and dropped them to the ground.
Percy stabbed his sword forward, but Gipsy's blades began to spin rapidly and Riptide was sucked into the rotation before being spat out and dropping to the floor. Layton slashed again but Percy ducked and grabbed Riptide, slashing at his opponent's leg. Layton stumbled back and Percy recovered, landing a fury of strikes against the black Vibranium armor.
"You're fast and skilled, but mostly, you just don't seem to give up" Layton said, though Percy picked up on the strange tone
Gipsy morphed into a shield and Percy slashed at it, but his sword did no damage. Layton pressed it forward and hit Percy in the nose with the shield, making it bleed almost instantly. The breeze blew heavily as Layton stepped back and away from each of Riptide's strikes.
Rolling backwards, Layton caught Percy off guard by tossing his shield like a frisbee. Gipsy collided with his stomach with enough force to make him cough up blood that splat against the ground and stained it. Shielding flying back to his hand, Layton charged again but Percy sidestepped and slashed his hip and used the tip of his blade to pierce his back.
It was as if the Fates couldn't decide who win the battle as each moment was dominated by a different combatant. Layton would dodge and hit Percy hard with the shield, or Percy would move out of the way and hit him with a fury of slashes that quickly covered his armor in scratches.
Once again morphing, Gipsy changed into a spear that Layton stabbed into the ground. The ground shook and cracks in the floor sped towards Percy until they reached his feet and released smoke that blinded his view. He raised Riptide and readied himself for an attack from any direction.
Sensing something from his right, Percy quickly turned and slashed Riptide, accurately making contact with his enemy's helmet. Layton thrusted his spear forward and only barely missed stabbing Percy, who backed up out of the way. Around them, the smoke blew away and rose up, getting absorbed by the dark clouds.
Layton raised his spear and lightning struck the tip. Electricity circled the spear and his strikes became faster, meaning Percy was having more difficult keeping up. On the other hand, Layton's armor was taking a lot of damage and was softening up in some spots.
The flat of Riptide made contact with Gipsy's tip and Percy rolled diagonally, standing up at Layton's side and spinning in a three-sixty so that he could slash his armor twice. Sparks and a small piece of Vibranium flew off as Percy recoiled back and stationed himself in a defensive position.
Both demigods caught their breath. Layton's aura of fire died down and smoke rose from his armor in place. Percy lunged first and out of nowhere, landing a massive strike to Layton's chest that made him stumble back and nearly fall; Riptide left a long white scar across the armor.
Gipsy morphed into an Axe and Layton stepped forward, swinging it downwards. Percy pressed Riptide up and blocked it, the blade just under the axe's. The breeze blew heavily as the two danced around the scene, blades clashing multiple times. Percy was mostly on defense, knowing that the axe could easily severe a limb if it made contact, and was waiting for the right moment to strike.
As the battle progressed, it became more and more intense, each strike only barely being blocked. Layton swung his axe down with all of his strength, and Percy sidestepped. Gipsy stabbed into the ground and Percy used that to uppercut Riptide, slashing Layton's helmet and releasing an explosion of sparks.
The two demigods put distance between themselves, backing up. Gipsy once again morphed into a long chain that wrapped around its wielder's wrist. Layton lassoed the chain and tossed it forward; the chain wrapped around Percy's neck. Pulling forward on the chain, Layton caused Percy to hit the rocky ground face first and drop Riptide. On top of that, Gipsy sparked up with the electricity it had absorbed before and electrocuted Percy.
"You look like a dog on a leash. Looks like it really is your last day, Perseus"
"I've heard that a lot - " Percy replied, slowly getting up. By now, blood dripped down from his forehead and cheek, and smoke from the electrocution was arising from his tatter clothes. "that it was my last fight, my last breath, and my last day. But I'm still here"
Percy got back up and raised Riptide, ready to keep going. Gipsy retracted and returned to its default dual-sided sword form. Thunder visibly shook the sky and it began to rain - the result of Percy's pure power. Layton removed his cape which dropped to the ground, and Percy's injuries were already being healed, as well as his stamina which was coming back.
The two demigods charged at each other again and their blades clashed ruthlessly. Layton backed up and twirled his dual-sided sword before thrusting it before. Percy parried the strike and moved to the side, landing a strike to the shoulder of his opponent. Riptide made contact with the upper-half of Gipsy and Layton pushed forward, with Percy pushing against him. The two stayed stationary, their strengths being equal, but as the seconds passed by, the rain was making its impact.
Eventually, Percy got the upper hand and pushed his opponent back. In an attempt for a quick kill, Layton tossed Gipsy and the sword went flying like a helicopter rotor at Mach 2. Percy sidestepped and avoided it narrowly, the blade inches away from the side of his air. Riptide pierced Layton's forearm and Percy dragged the sword across, ripping into his armor.
Layton backed up and held his forearm in pain, blood dripping from it. Gipsy came flying back to him and he caught it, swinging immediately after and cutting Percy across the chest. The rain poured heavier and Percy's cuts and bruises had vanished by now. One last time, the two charged at each other but there wasn't nearly enough force this time in Layton's strike, and Percy disarmed him before landing a storm of strikes.
"Your persistent. It's the most dangerous thing about you" Layton said as he knelt down onto one knee and grabbed his bleeding forearm with the other hand. "The battler's yours. Finish it and go on your way"
"I'm not gonna kill you" Percy said
"I like to believe that your fear may be the bane of my existence" Layton replied
The breeze blew against Percy heavily and he stumbled back. Red ripples of energy appeared in the wind, and the red sky became nearly blinding for Percy. Thunder boomed, momentarily illuminating the silhouette of a figure towering over his opponent now.
"Quite the feat of strength Perseus. I'm impressed" Syn said, though his tone wasn't as friendly towards him as it usually was. The only time people - especially Annabeth - used his first name was when he was in trouble.
"Syn" Percy said under his breath
"In all my life, I've never witnessed such a powerful demigod" Syn admitted. "It truly pains me to see you deny my offer over and over. Clearly you've seen what kind of power I can grant you. You could be safe for eternity, and be left without a care in the world. Why continue to work as a pawn for the Olympians? I, Percy... can set you free"
Syn gripped Layton's helmet and crushed it before forcibly removing it. Percy's eyes focused and then widened a bit when he realized who had been beneath the armor the entire time. Everything seemed to click into place simultaneously, and he had a good idea of the story.
"Join us Percy, and I will guarantee the safety of everyone you care for" Syn promised
Out of the corner of his eye, Percy noticed motion. Gipsy came flying back into Layton's hand and he quickly stood back and up and turned, slashing the blade up and turning Syn into a pile of ash. Moments of silence passed as it continued to rain, and the demigods stayed in the same position - with Layton's back to Percy.
"Brainwashed?" Percy figured
"How'd you know?"
"Your fighting style was really aggressive, but there was also a hint of hesitation. Not to mention your tone shifted sometimes, like something was fighting inside" Percy explained. "Also with Luke being alive again, I kind of figured the Shadow-Dragons were up to something like that"
"You're smarter than you come off" Layton said. "But you really shouldn't have come here"
"What do you mean?" Percy's eyebrow raised up
"I wasn't the challenge"
.
If it weren't for the rain, Percy's legs would have given out a couple of miles back. He ran through the wet, rocky ground with one goal in mind - find Annabeth before it was too late. After what seemed like an eternity, he stumbled across a door identical to the one he had come through. Placing his hand onto the imprint, he rushed out once the door opened.
When he entered the location-shifting room again, it was deactivated and stuck on one spot - Tartarus. He hastily placed his hand on the imprint to Annabeth's door, and it opened with some difficulty. As soon as he stepped out, he knew something was wrong. Very wrong.
Before him stood half of New York. The sky glitched like a static television, and buildings would put themselves back together just fall over again. Just above the clouds, three large snake-shaped dragons flew around, each a different color - blue, red, and brown.
"Percy" a quiet voice called out to him
He turned to his right and spotted Annabeth sitting in the alleyway between two buildings. She was all bruised and cut up, and her clothes were tattered - similar to how he looked after his previous fight. He quickly jogged over and knelt next to her, making sure she was okay.
"I'm fine, but we need to get out of here. How'd you get here anyways?" Annabeth said
"Long story. We just need to find the door. It shouldn't be too-" Percy sighed. "We have to find that door"
"There's no getting past the Shadow-Dragons. I've already tried to look for the door, but I couldn't find it" Annabeth responded
"I had to run like five miles to find mine" Percy mumbled
Three roars were heard overhead. The couple exchanged glances, and a plan formed in both of their heads. Whatever they were about to do, it was nothing new to them.