Daria's home was under attack.
She created a sled out of a large piece of rock to keep up with Percy's pet hellhound, feeling a bit like an earthbender or something. Percy carried the golden eagle standard proudly, and Daria was glad he was on their side.
They skirted the perimeter of the camp and took the northernmost bridge over the Little Tiber, charging onto the Field of Mars at the western edge of the battle. A horde of Cyclopes was hammering away at the campers of the Fifth Cohort, who were trying to keep their shields locked just
to stay alive. Meanwhile, the First Cohort was being terribly led by Octavian. They were getting overpowered by emposai and the likes. She nodded at Percy once and they broke away.
"First Cohort!" She yelled, her rock tornado carrying her high enough to get an excellent glance at Octavian's terrified expression. "Ad signa. Don't break ranks."
She joined Michael Kahale on the ground where he was defending himself against a Cyclops 4 feet taller than he was. Without saying a word a dived left, leaving the right open for Daria to help him. The Cyclops didn't stand a chance and disintegrated with a swift blow to the gut.
"'Bout time you got here Jackson." Micheal grinned, holding his arm out for a fist bump. "We were starting to think you'd left us with Octavian for the next five years."
Daria snorted, "Like I would let that hap-duck!"
A sword swung right over where Michael's head had been seconds earlier. A gold plated monster grinned eerily at them to which Daria responded by dumping a rock on his head.
"Thanks," Michael said grimly, and their little reunion was over. Daria spotted Reyna and Percy approach Polybotes from the corner of her eye.
"I've got to go," she touched her friend's shoulder. "Make sure Octavian doesn't get my cohort killed." He nodded.
"Romans!" Reyna's voice boomed across the fields. "Rally to the eagle!"
Demigods and monsters alike turned and gawked as Percy bounded forward on his hellhound.
"What is this?" Polybotes demanded. "What is this?"
Daria felt a rush of power coursing through the standard's staff onto the field. Percy raised the eagle and shouted, "Twelfth Legion Fulminata!"
Thunder shook the valley. The eagle let loose a blinding flash, and a thousand tendrils of lightning exploded from its golden wings — arcing in front of Percy like the branches of an enormous deadly tree, connecting with the nearest monsters, leaping from one to another, completely ignoring the Roman forces.
When the lightning stopped, the First and Second Cohorts were facing one surprised-looking giant and several hundred smoking piles of ash. The enemy's center line had been charred to oblivion.
The look on Octavian's face was priceless. The centurion stared at Percy with shock, then outrage. Then, when their own troops started to cheer, he had no choice except to join the shouting: "Rome! Rome!"
The giant Polybotes backed up uncertainly, but Daria knew the battle wasn't over. She finally reached Percy's side. "Man, you couldn't have done that like three minutes ago?"
"Did you ever learn not to talk so much during a battle?" He retorted. "Come on, let's get this guy."
The Fourth Cohort was still surrounded by Cyclopes. Even Hannibal the elephant was having a hard time wading through so many monsters. His black Kevlar armor was ripped so that his label just said ant.
The veterans and Lares on the eastern flank were being pushed toward the city. The monsters' siege tower was still hurling explosive green fireballs into the streets. The gorgons had disabled the giant eagles and now flew unchallenged over the giant's remaining centaurs and the Earthborn, trying to rally them.
"Stand your ground!" Stheno yelled. "I've got free samples!"
Polybotes bellowed. A dozen fresh basilisks fell out of his hair, turning the grass to poison yellow. "You think this changes anything, Percy Jackson? I cannot be destroyed! Come forward, son of Neptune. I will destroy you and your cousin!"
Percy dismounted. He handed Dakota the standard. "You are the cohort's senior centurion. Take care of this." Dakota blinked, then he straightened with pride. He dropped his Kool-Aid flask and took the eagle. "I will carry it with honor."
"Frank, Hazel, Tyson," Daria said, "help the Fourth Cohort. We've got a giant to kill."
Percy raised Riptide, but before he could advance, horns blew in the northern hills. Another army appeared on the ridge — hundreds of warriors in black-and-gray camouflage, armed with spears and shields. Interspersed among their ranks were a dozen battle forklifts, their sharpened tines gleaming in the sunset and flaming bolts nocked in their crossbows.
"Amazons," Frank said. "Great."
Polybotes laughed. "You, see? Our reinforcements have arrived! Rome will fall today!"
The Amazons lowered their spears and charged down the hill. Their forklifts barreled into battle. The giant's army cheered — until the Amazons changed course and headed straight for the monsters' intact eastern flank.
"Amazons, forward!" On the largest forklift stood a girl who looked like an older version of Reyna, in black combat armor with a glittering gold belt around her waist.
"Queen Hylla!" said Hazel. "She survived!"
The Amazon queen shouted: "To my sister's aid! Destroy the monsters!"
"Destroy!" Her troops' cry echoed through the valley.
Reyna wheeled her pegasus toward Percy. Her eyes gleamed. Her expression said: I could hug you right now. Daria knew she didn't give that out freely. She shouted, "Romans! Advance!"
The battlefield descended into absolute chaos. Amazon and Roman lines swung toward the enemy like the Doors of Death themselves.
But they had only one goal. Percy pointed at the giant.
"You versus us. To the finish."
They met by the aqueduct, which had somehow survived the battle so far. Polybotes fixed that. He swiped his trident and smashed the nearest brick arch, unleashing a waterfall.
"Go on, then!" Polybotes taunted. "Let me see your power! Does water do your bidding? Does it heal you? But I am born to oppose Neptune."
The giant thrust his hand under the water. As the torrent passed through his fingers it turned dark green. He flung some at them, Percy instinctively deflected it with his will. The liquid splattered the ground in front of him. With a nasty hiss, the grass withered and smoked.
" My touch turns water to poison," Polybotes said. "Let's see what it does to your blood!"
He threw his net at Daria, but she rolled out of the way. She threw sand into the giant's eyes. While Polybotes was blinded, Percy charged. He plunged Riptide into the giant's belly then withdrew it and vaulted away, leaving the giant roaring in pain. The plan was clear: Daria would defend and Percy would attack.
The strike would have dissolved any lesser monster, but Polybotes just staggered and looked down at the golden ichor — the blood of immortals — spilling from his wound. The cut was already closing.
"Good try, demigods," he snarled. "But I will break you still."
"Gotta catch us first," Percy said.
He turned and bolted toward the city. Daria quick on his heels, throwing up obstacles to trip Polybotes up. Who knew a patch of sunflowers could cause so much damage?
"What?" the giant yelled incredulously. "You run, cowards? Stand still and die!"
They had no intention of doing that. Daria knew they couldn't kill Polybotes alone. But she hoped Percy had a plan because she did not.
He passed Mrs. O'Leary, who looked up curiously with a gorgon wriggling in her mouth. (Daria still wasn't over that. Of course Percy Jackson would have a fucking hellhound as a pet).
"I'm fine!" Percy yelled as they ran by, followed by a giant screaming bloody murder.
He jumped over a burning scorpion and Daria ducked as Hannibal threw a Cyclops across her path. Out of the corner of his eye, she saw Tyson pounding the Earthborn into the ground like a game of whack-a-mole. Ella was fluttering above him, dodging missiles and calling out advice: "The groin. The Earthborn's groin is sensitive."
SMASH!
"Good. Yes. Tyson found its groin."
"Percy needs help?" Tyson called.
"I'm good!"
"Die!" Polybotes yelled, closing fast. They kept running.
In the distance, she saw Hazel and Arion galloping across the battlefield, cutting down centaurs and karpoi. One grain spirit yelled, "Wheat! I'll give you wheat!" but Arion stomped him into a pile of breakfast cereal. Queen Hylla and Reyna joined forces, forklift and pegasus riding together, scattering the dark shades of fallen warriors. Frank turned himself into an elephant and stomped through some Cyclopes, and Dakota held the golden eagle high, blasting lightning at any monsters that dared to challenge the Fifth Cohort.
All that was great, but they needed a different kind of help. They needed a god.
To buy some time, Daria ducked behind one of the aqueduct's columns. The giant swung his trident. When the column crumbled, Daria used the pressure to help her guide the collapse — bringing down several tons of bricks on the giant's head. Following her cousin, she bolted for the city limits.
"Terminus!" Daria yelled.
The nearest statue of the god was about sixty feet ahead. His stone eyes snapped open as they ran toward him.
"Completely unacceptable!" he complained. "Buildings on fire! Invaders! Get them out of here, Daria Jackson!"
"I'm trying," she said. "But there's this giant, Polybotes."
"Yes, I know! Wait — Excuse me a moment." Terminus closed his eyes in concentration. A flaming green cannonball sailed overhead and suddenly vaporized. "I can't stop all the missiles," Terminus complained. "Why can't they be civilized and attack more slowly? I'm only one god."
"Help us kill the giant," Percy said, "and this will all be over. A god and demigod working together — that's the only way to kill him."
Terminus sniffed. "I guard borders. I don't kill giants. It's not in my job description."
"Terminus, come on!" Percy took another step forward, and the god shrieked indignantly.
"Stop right there, young man! No weapons inside the Pomerian Line!"
"But we're under attack."
"I don't care! Rules are rules. When people don't follow the rules, I get very, very angry."
Percy shared a glance with Daria. "Hold that thought."
He sprinted back toward the giant. "Hey, ugly!"
"Ah, insults." Daria mused, ready to block off the city limits. "The world's best war tactic."
"Rarrr!" Polybotes burst from the ruins of the aqueduct. The water was still pouring over him, turning to poison and creating a steaming marsh around his feet.
"You... you will die slowly," the giant promised. He picked up his trident, now dripping with green venom.
All around them, the battle was winding down. As the last monsters were mopped up, Daria's friends started gathering, forming a ring around the giant.
"I will take you prisoner, Percy Jackson," Polybotes snarled. "I will torture you under the sea. Every day the water will heal you, and every day I will bring you closer to death." Daria tried not to be upset about the giant's lack of attention to her. Though, he was the anti-neptune, not anti-Gaea. Now that would be awkward.
"Great offer," Percy said. "But I think I'll just kill you instead."
Polybotes bellowed in rage. He shook his head, and more basilisks flew from his hair.
"Get back!" Daria warned.
Fresh chaos spread through the ranks. Hazel spurred Arion and put herself between the basilisks and the campers. Frank changed form — shrinking into something lean and furry... a weasel? Daria thought Frank had lost his mind, but when Frank charged the basilisks, they absolutely freaked out. They slithered away with Frank chasing after them in hot weasely pursuit.
Daria nodded. "All on you now, Perce."
Polybotes pointed his trident and ran toward Percy. As the giant reached the Pomerian Line, Percy jumped aside like a bullfighter. Polybotes barreled across the city limits.
"THAT'S IT!" Terminus cried. "That's AGAINST THE RULES!"
Polybotes frowned, obviously confused that he was being told off by a statue. "What are you?" he growled. "Shut up!"
He pushed the statue over and turned back to Percy.
"Now I'm MAD!" Terminus shrieked. "I'm strangling you. Feel that? Those are my hands around your neck, you big bully. Get over here! I'm going to head-butt you so hard — "
"Enough!" The giant stepped on the statue and broke Terminus in three pieces — pedestal, body, and head.
"You DIDN'T!" shouted Terminus. "Percy Jackson, you've got yourself a deal! Let's kill this upstart."
The giant laughed so hard that he didn't realize Percy was charging until it was too late. Percy jumped up, vaulting off the giant's knee, and drove Riptide straight through one of the metal mouths on Polybotes's breastplate, sinking the Celestial bronze hilt-deep in his chest. The giant stumbled backward, tripping over Terminus's pedestal and crashing to the ground.
While he was trying to get up, clawing at the sword in his chest, Percy hefted the head of the statue.
"You'll never win!" the giant groaned. "You cannot defeat me alone."
"I'm not alone." Percy raised the stone head above the giant's face. "I'd like you to meet my friend Terminus. He's a god!"
Too late, awareness and fear dawned in the giant's face. Percy smashed the god's head as hard as he could into the Polybotes's nose, and the giant dissolved, crumbling into a steaming heap of seaweed, reptile skin, and poisonous muck.
Percy staggered away, completely exhausted.
"Ha!" said the head of Terminus. "That will teach him to obey the rules of Rome."
For a moment, the battlefield was silent except for a few fires burning, and a few retreating monsters screaming in panic.
A ragged circle of Romans and Amazons stood around Percy. Tyson, Ella, and Mrs. O'Leary were there. Daria grinned at him with pride. Hell yeah, that was her cousin.
They began to chant, "Percy! Percy!" They mobbed him. Before he knew it, they were raising him on a shield. The cry changed to, "Praetor! Praetor!" Daria laughed at Percy's expression, and she was completely sure Jason would do the same.
Among the chanters was Reyna herself, who held up her hand and grasped Percy's in congratulation. Then the mob of cheering Romans carried him around the Pomerian Line, carefully avoiding Terminus's borders, and escorted him back home to Camp Jupiter. Daria touched her necklace again, smiling. They had won.
Thank you to everyone who let me know about the formatting issue! Only two more chapters to go! Wooo