Sorry for the long delay. I read reviews and I hope some things will be understandable in this chapter. If you don't, bear with me. Everything will be understandable in the coming chapters.


6

The hunters were aiming for their target's heart when they were teleported away. The arrows were released but they didn't reach the target's body. They were teleported 2 kilometres south.

"Dammit! Who teleported us away?" Phoebe yelled.

"I didn't know he had the ability to teleport us away." Isabelle, another hunter, said in anger. "Coward."

"He didn't." Jason said. "My guess, Lady Thalia."

"How dare she? How dare she make us flee when Lady Artemis need our help, especially against that child-killing bastard." Phoebe's eyes were red, anger taking control of her.

"Phoebe, calm down. She is a Goddess. Maybe she must have known it was dangerous for us." Jason tried to placate her by putting a hand on her shoulder but it was in vain.

"Dangerous for us? Our lives are dangerous every day when we fight the monsters who kill demigods. Who does she think she is? Does she think so less about our fighting abilities?"

"I am sure she doesn't, Phoebe. She is our friend."

"She is not my friend if she keeps doubting my abilities."

"She is not doubting anything. I'm sure she has her reasons. Does giving her a chance to explain too much difficult for you?"

"Argh! You and your reasons! Fine." Phoebe grumbled.

"Are you two quite done? Or do we leave you here to bicker?" Isabelle asked.

"No, we're coming. But let the inexperienced stay here with Morgaine." When the concerned hunter began to argue, Phoebe silenced her with a hand. "The inexperienced should not be sent to their deaths, just because we were not able to see reason. He will not differentiate between experienced or inexperienced. That much is clear from New Athens. And you should protect them. They are not safe here."

Morgaine nodded and the rest of the hunt set out with their wolves for the battle.


Previously

Artemis once again focussed her gaze upon the man. He was swirling Anaklusmos in his hands.

He whispered, but she heard. "Well, if you don't become mine willingly, I will take what is mine by force."

Perseus, it's your show now.

Of course, Wolf. I live for this.


Perseus changed his form into full battle regalia. Although his clothes didn't change, his weapons changed. Anaklusmos and the black sword were in their scabbards. A huge battle axe on his back and a spear in his hand. A shield was in his other hand.

Wolf, keep down Percy for as long as you can. I don't want any interference as I destroy his enemies.

A low growl was his answer.

"Artemis, I will take you with me. Please don't make me hurt you to do that." Perseus said to Artemis.

"Your ego astonishes me, Percy Jackson." Artemis enjoyed his growl. "If you think that I will come with you without a fight on your arrogant proposal of marriage, you don't know a single thing about me."

"Always so fierce. I love that about a woman if I ever love a woman that is. So be it, Artemis. I will kill these pests for your arrogance." Perseus pointed towards Andy and Thalia, who was barely standing.

"You still haven't become a sion, Thalia, if I was able to defeat you so easily. You bring shame to our Order."

"I don't care about our Order nor do I want to fight you. Please leave, Percy before you get killed."

"Before I get killed? Have you forgotten who made the mighty Zeus a cripple? Well, for a time. And I have to fear of being killed? By you? Pests!"

"In a Duel, yes, you defeated my father. But here, there is no Duel. And you are no match for us."

"Us? Really?" Thalia's eyebrow twitched a little. Perseus understood. "As in the Olympians? You've called for their help? No matter, more the merrier. Athena will be present, no? I have a return gift for her."

"This has gone on enough." Artemis declared. "I don't care who you are, I will kill you for even thinking about harming my sister."

"Bring it on, woman."

Artemis fired an arrow and sent another in the first's shadow. Both didn't hit their mark, but the shield.

"Hiding arrows in shadows, Artemis? This is child's play. You can do better than that." No sooner than he said it, an arrow slipped past his shield and he was forced to move to avoid getting hit.

"Now, we're are talking."

By now, Andy and Thalia had taken up weapons and have started shooting. The three of them began circling him to maximise their hits and soon started hitting Perseus' legs and hands. The vital parts were shielded perfectly to avoid any hits. They were pretty much in a stalemate.

Soon, frustrated that someone of her calibre is getting only a stalemate, Artemis used an explosive arrow that hit him on the shield. He was sent flying. He crashed into a tree with such force that the tree was destroyed and the remains of the tree fell on top of him.

"That wasn't so hard." Thalia remarked.

"He isn't dead. I won't stop until he is dead." Artemis snarled.

"My Lady, I'm fine."

"He hurt you, Thalia. For defending me. That's not something I would accept. He should die."

"My Lady, I'm begging you. Please, let's leave. I apologize for his actions."

"Why are you doing this, Thalia?"

"It's the only way I can help him."

"Why?"

"Because I was one of the reasons, he became this monster. I was one of the those who betrayed him, accused him of treason against Olympus. It is the only way I can atone for my mistakes."

"But-"

"Milady, please forgive him. He is my brother. Don't kill him. He is the only one I have left, Milady. Please..." Andy also begged Artemis.

"Very well. We will leave-" Artemis was cut off by a spear piercing her through the stomach from the back. It had pierced her stomach and have come through the body. Perseus' spear. It was now covered in golden ichor.

"My lady!"

"MILADY!"

Andy and Thalia quickly held Artemis who collapsed onto the ground like a sack of potatoes. Her eyes were closed. She was unconscious. They both tried to bring her to consciousness but she was not responding. Thalia, with some effort, pulled out the spear. It was dripping out a liquid. If it could make an Immortal unconscious, it was only one liquid. Water from River Styx. While they were contemplating what to do, a burst of maniacal laughter interrupted them.

"Well, that was a quick fall, for an Olympian." Perseus said gleefully. He had apparently moved the tree away while they were pleading to Artemis not to kill him. He motioned with his hand and his spear went back to him. Both Thalia and Andy looked at him murderously, both of their concerns about their brother disappearing at the apparent condition of their sister/mother-figure.

"YOU! Just when I was about to change my thoughts about you being a murderer, you hurt Lady Artemis. I will kill you, just for that." Before Andy could get ready for battle, Thalia stopped her.

"Look after Lady Artemis. She should be conscious soon, now that the Styx waters aren't poisoning her from the inside. I will deal with him."

"I will deal with him." Perseus mocked Thalia. "No, Goddess. It is I who would be dealing with you two pests for preventing me from Artemis."

"Please, Percy! Just go before things get out of hand." Thalia tried hard to reign in her anger at what he had done to Artemis. She tried to remind herself that this isn't Percy. Percy would never hurt Lady Artemis willingly. This must be Lycaon talking. Percy will never act like this. She had heard about how a werewolf who was converted will have an additional conscious-the werewolf who had bit him.

"Artemis will be mine, Goddess. I would take from her what she had protected for millennia. I would take her maidenhood and she will be mine."

"MONSTER! You would have to kill me before that happens." Thalia rushed to him with her spear and Aegis.

"Gladly."

"Don't move her, Andy and don't come to me unless I say so."

Aegis didn't faze him and he attacked with a kick to the famous shield. Thalia was nearly thrown off-balance, not expecting it but quickly recovered before he could capitalize on it. Thalia, quickly getting on the offensive, attacked his shield. The shield barely moved an inch. She quickly attacked with her spear towards his side but he locked her in a grip. She could not move an inch of the hand that is holding her spear. The only way to escape was to let go of the spear, which she isn't planning to do.

He had her spear hand gripped but his spear was also in the grip. It looked like a stalemate with neither willing to give up their spear. Perseus, getting tired of the stalemate, attacked with his shield, intent on distracting her. But she had seen far too many battles to fall for that. She also used her shield to attack, thus making both the shields also connect with enough force to make the other yield.

Unfortunately for Perseus, who is not a complete Immortal, couldn't stand against the strength of an Immortal and his shield had to yield in order for him not to break his shoulder. With his shield out of the way, she attacked with her shield and collided it with him, breaking the deadlock they were in.

He let go of the spear and fell to the ground. His spear in her hand. She threw away his spear. Before she could retrieve her silver dagger to kill the werewolf inside him and bring the old Percy back, he had withdrawn Anaklusmos and attacked her. He was so quick with his sword that she couldn't even see where the sword was. She could barely keep up her defence.

Suddenly, he cut off her spear with a well-placed blow. Thalia was in shock. No weapon of his should have been able to cut off her spear, her Godly weapon. In her shock, she didn't see him moving and by the time she saw him, it was too late. He had picked up his shield and spear, sheathing Anaklusmos and she was left with Aegis.

He attacked with his shield towards hers and his spear towards her skull. She quickly moved away from the spear tip. This continued for some minutes before he knocked her down with his shield. While she was down, he broke her hand with a quick jab with his shield and threw away her shield.

"You're a sion, Thalia. And you never once used your greatest weapon, air."

Thalia stood up again, only for him to pierce her abdomen with his spear. Before she could bring down lightening, he broke her other arm with his shield. As she lay moaning in pain, he lifted his spear to end her life. She quickly rolled away from him. Before he could follow, he sensed arrows coming towards him. He quickly put up his shield, most of the arrows deflected by the shield, but some managed to hit him. Red blood with a golden tinge of ichor started flowing from his wounds.

The Hunt has arrived.

Seeing their target bleeding red, they started firing once again. Most arrows didn't hit him but he was quickly put on the defensive, away from Thalia. Once again ordering the Hunt to fire, Phoebe started looking for Andy and Artemis. She found Artemis, still unconscious, laying on Andy's lap. She nodded for Jason to follow her while ordering others to keep firing.

Quickly, they reached Artemis. Andy was getting worried as Artemis still hasn't gained consciousness.

"Why did you come here again? I have asked Lady Thalia to teleport you all. I-"

"That was you?" Phoebe's eyes began glowing red again. "What in Tartarus' name were you thinking when you teleported us away? Do you think so little of our capabilities?"

"Phoebe, I only wanted to protect you all. I know you are capable, but you're no match for him."

"And you are? I didn't know you were this arrogant."

"I thought he will listen to me. He is my brother, after all."

"And did he?"

"No. When he is the Wolf, nobody could make him listen. Maybe Lady Artemis."

"Lady Artemis? Why would he-"

"That is an assumption. Now that you're here, you can see why I made Lady Thalia teleport you all."

Andy pointed towards Perseus who had started gaining advantage and had reached the hunters. As soon as he reached them, he bashed the shield against Isabelle. As she fell, he placed the shield at his back and started attacking with Anaklusmos. Although she was loath to admit it, the hunters were no match for him in close-combat. Within minutes, he had knocked out 20 hunters and was currently fighting 5 hunters, who were the best in close-combat in the Hunt. But Phoebe could see that the fight was not going well for them.

"Andy, go fight him. Save your brothers and sisters. He will surely kill them otherwise."

"What about Lady Artemis? This is not normal Styx waters. If it was, she would have been awake by now."

"I will take care of Lady Artemis. You go now. Jason, go with her."

Andy nodded and went towards Perseus along with Jason. By now, Perseus had defeated his opponents and knocked them down on the ground. As they reached him, he was hovering over Atlanta. Before they could reach her before he could do something to her, they were suddenly unable to move. They tried their best to move, sure that he is going to do something to Atlanta who had said terrible things about his mother, but they could not move an inch. Andy, sure that he is controlling water in them, tried her best to nullify his effect, but he was too strong and experienced.

"So, now we can't have that tongue of yours causing anyone pain by such words, can we? I have just the solution. Cut off your tongue or ... The other one is clearly enjoyable, at least for me." He laughed cruelly.

He soon made a gash at his hand and along with the blood; some reddish-brown liquid was flowing out. He collected that liquid onto his sword and the liquid began to run evenly throughout the sword. He then stabbed the sword into her chest. Atlanta screamed out but quickly stopped.

"Oh! Don't cry. The wound isn't fatal. But you would wish it were."

Atlanta then began to shake as if relieving a nightmare. She began sobbing but no sound emitted from her. Her body convulsed as if she is in constant pain but only her tears flowed. Her voice didn't come out. Suddenly she became unconscious. Andy guessed that her pain made her fall asleep. It was better for her, especially by her reactions after he had stabbed her. She seemed to be at least in peace in her unconsciousness.

"What had she done to her?" Jason asked disbelievingly. He was once a great admirer of the General of Arcadia for his actions in the Olympic Wars but lost it after what he had done in New Athens-killing new-borns of 7 days old with his own sword. He had heard stories about how Zoe Nightshade, the previous lieutenant of the Hunt before Thalia had given him his sword Anaklusmos, saying that it belonged to a noble soul. What would she think of her choice if she was alive?

"Poison is my guess."

"Why?"

"He has inherited Akhlys' domain of poison after she was killed and her soul was sent to the Void."

"Seriously? How powerful is this guy?"

"Now, you know why I asked Lady Thalia to teleport you all. Also, he is the God of Magic. Don't know how that works with how Hecate is the Goddess of Magic. Tides, poison. That's all I know."

"How do you know this?"

"Dreams. They're violent, to say the least."

"Anyway, what can we do to help her?"

"Nothing that I know. If we survive this, maybe I can get Dad to take a look at her. Or even Apollo. I had asked Lady Thalia to call every Olympian. Apollo should have been here by now."

"I think, we're on our own. Do you have any plan to defeat him? Because we two attacking him is not going to end up great, no offence."

"I don't have any plan. Maybe the fact that I am his sister would help."

"Right. Why would it help now? I have seen him in a less crazy mood and he was unhinged, even then. Now, we might be going to our deaths."

"Don't say that, right before the battle."

"Well, it's the truth. We-"

"Have you two finished talking or should I go to Artemis first?" By now, Perseus had approached them.

"Why do you want Milady, brother? You love Aurelia, your wife. Whom you killed when the last time Wolf or rather Lycaon took over. He wants to rape her. You're not like that. Please fight whatever is corrupting you, brother. This is the last sin you've yet to commit. Please, brother, take control."

"Nice try, woman. But Pery is already fighting just to keep you lot alive. I'm Lycaon and I will rape her. I would take revenge against her for what she did against me. It's only just."

"I don't want anything to talk with you, bastard. I want to talk with Percy or even Perseus."

"No luck, woman. Percy won't be able to stop me before it's too late. It's my punishment for killing me. By forcing him to rape one of his friends. Perseus, he loves battles and cares for nothing else. And I've offered him enough." He looked past them and said," Aha! Artemis is awake. And I am wasting time here talking to you too. Don't stop me."

Artemis has, indeed, woken up but was still weak. On agreeing with her, Phoebe went towards Perseus to help Andy and Jason while Artemis went to Thalia who has also healed thanks to the energy flowing through her from her domain.

"Argh! I forgot how hard it is to kill an Immortal. If you give them enough time, they would be back again. No matter, I'll kill you all and take Artemis."

"Leave Percy. You're outnumbered. This is your final warning." Thalia yelled.

"Listen to her, Perseus. Leave before you break the rules you yourself brought together for the Immortals. I'm willing to forget your insult if you leave." Artemis unknocked her arrow, in a sign of peace.

"Please listen to them, brother. Please."

Perseus laughed.

"You think three of you outnumbers me? I had fought millions of opponents before and I'm still standing. I am leaving, only with Artemis."

"Why do you want me to come with you? You or whoever that was, may love me, but I don't. Get it through that thick skull of yours before you start another war."

"You think highly of me, Artemis. Nobody is going to war for me. Arcadians are against me for protecting this sea spawn every time she kills an Arcadian. It's a surprisingly unique trait they have that I have not been banished, yet. The monsters have patience while we immortals do not have it. Who are the actual monsters?" Perseus seemed to have zoned off.

He shook himself away from the past. "As I said, I'm leaving only with Artemis."

"Not going to happen."

"Over my dead body."

"Very well. May you get Elysium."

Before they could attack him, he motioned with his hand and all were sent flying, crashing into the trees. They all quickly got up and rushed towards him but stopped when they saw something unusual. His one eye was glowing blue while the other was glowing a sickly green. The lights representing the seven elements were emitting from him in faint. The blue for the air and the green for the water was glowing a little too brightly.

Jason gasped. He turned to Andy. "When were you going to say that he is an elementalist with control over more than one element? After we're in the Underworld?"

"I didn't know. As I said before, I only know him from my dreams."

"No matter who he is, we're not running from battle." Phoebe growled. "He disrespected Lady Artemis."

They all rushed towards him but soon a storm had formed around them and the temperature suddenly dropped. The ground soon became snow and the winds started picking up. They could not see each other even though they were right next to each other. They tried to find him and put an end to this storm but all they accomplished was get away from each other. Phoebe and Andy tried to fire an arrow through the wind towards the man but the winds were so strong that it just flew off in the other direction.

Suddenly the storm engulfing the mortal and the demigods vanished, leaving them to fight with Perseus without the support of the goddesses. Andy and Jason rushed towards them with their swords and shields raised while Phobe readied her bow and started firing. Even though they were three-to-one against him, they didn't have the confidence while he stayed where he was, smirking. How can they be confident against a man, who is not even completely Immortal, but has defeated every known Immortal in Duel? For Andy, the biggest reason she has to kill him turned out to be an incomplete truth.

Jason reached him first and before he could attack him, Perseus has already attacked and he was forced to move to avoid being cut open. Andy had more luck but it was futile. They were both outmatched even with Phoebe attacking with a bow. Everyone knew Andy was the second best at swordsmanship right after her older, infamous brother but now, she knew that she was a distant second. He was on a league of his own. What happened on her Duel had just been plain luck, as Artemis said.

Seeing that they were getting defeated, Phoebe prayed to her father and joined into the battle. Red light emitted from her body as the Blessing of Mars took over.

"Blessing of Mars! No matter, you will be dead within a few minutes."

Even with the Blessing of Mars, he was undefeated with the three of them trying hard to keep being cut open by his sword. Before long, Phoebe and Jason were disarmed. Before he could kill them, Andy raised her hand and the sea on whose beach was they fighting was through on top of him. Never have she controlled water of such huge amount and Phoebe and Jason were in awe.

But this was also futile as all it had done was rejuvenate him.

"Impressive, Andy, for you. But you forget that I and your father and other Ocean Lords have fought the Leviathan and imprisoned the monster. This is nothing compared to that."

"Still, let me show you the power of a sion." Saying, this, he raised his hands and immediately the control of water was sprung from her and he fell the sea on top of Phoebe, Jason and other hunters. She and Perseus were the only one in the sea not struggling for breath. Everyone else was trying not to breathe and die. Despite trying hard to create protective bubbles for the others, she couldn't succeed. Whenever she tried to do this, the trident scar on his face would glow and she was left panting due to exhaustion. He, on the other hand, has calmly sat down on the sand and was looking at her attempts to save her family with amusement.

"Please, brother. Don't kill them. I was the one who insulted you, brother."

"Yes, you did that. And this is your punishment. Death of family. Nobody insults my mother and lives to tell the tale."

"Brother, please." Andy was, by now, kneeling on the sand and was pleading to him.

"Well, since you're my sister, I guess I can let them go. But you will have to teleport them out of the water. I would not do that for you. Consider this your induction into the Order."

"Brother, I don't know how to teleport people out."

"That's your concern. Do it now or they die. I don't have much time, so I'm only giving you time till seven."

"Please, don't do this."

"One."

"Please, it wasn't their fault. I was the one that insulted you and your mother."

"Two."

"Please, let them go. I would give you whatever I have. Please, let them go."

"Three."

"Why are you doing this? Have you no heart, no compassion?"

"Four."

"Look, I don't even know how to create one."

"Five."

"Please, don't do it. I will try. Please, don't let them fall." Andy raised her hand and tried to feel the water in the air. She could not feel any water in the air. She could only feel the water in the sea.

"Six."

Andy again tried. Failure.

"Seven." He made a 'down' motion with his hand and they started choking, nearing death. Andy cried and in desperation called for help from the sea. The seawater rose to meet the falling people and it then began to become as thin as a mist. At the same time, a similar misty layer began to appear on the shore. The people who fell through the layer immediately crashed into the sand. When everyone reached the shore, Andy fell to the ground in exhaustion. She could feel her energy draining from her.

Perseus appeared near her and she immediately jumped away from him. "What do you want, beast? Haven't you tormented me enough?"

"Beast. That was new. Not as good as monster or devil, but not bad. Well, congratulations, Andromeda"

"I don't need your praise. I need you to leave me alone."

"Well, I would leave you alone, if you stop getting in my way."

"You're going to rape Lady Artemis, the woman I consider equivalent to my mother. How can you expect me to stand aside? Even if it were anybody else, I would not move away."

"She's mine and I'm only taking what's mine."

"Do you even hear yourself? She's mine? Brother, you had a wife and you killed her. I know how much you regret that. You will regret this more."

"Well, Percy Jackson will regret what he is about to do with one of his past friends. I will not."

Saying this, Perseus walked away, ensuring to Andy that it really was Lycaon in control of her brother's body. Even dead, Lycaon is wreaking havoc in the Hunter's lives.

Andy looked around. Every other hunter was unconscious but alive. The goddesses were still at the storm's epicentre. Andy stood up, determined to kill him this time. For Lady Artemis and even if she will regret this as long as she lives, for her brother who had protected her till now.

By now, the storm around Thalia had vanished and Thalia had appeared battle-ready. Thalia motioned with her hand and he began choking as the air was removed from his body. Both of them were struggling to control the air in his body, one trying to keep it in while the other trying to make the other unconscious by taking out the air.

Andy quickly reached him intent on the kill but before she could, the sea moved rushed to Thalia, breaking her concentration and releasing him. Before Thalia could think of anything, he made a water spear to enter through her body and caused the water molecules to unbind, releasing a huge amount of energy blasting her off into unconsciousness.

Seeing that Andy had got up again, he quickly motioned with his hand and the water molecules released energy blasting her off into unconsciousness too.

"Now, if there are no disturbances, I will take Artemis." Saying this, he motioned with his hand and the storm surrounding the remaining goddess vanished, leaving a pissed-off goddess. It was just a distraction, to take her out of the equation. She looked for Atlanta and Andy. What she saw broke her heart. Atlanta lying on the ground unconscious or dead, she could not tell. Andy and Thalia unconscious and her other hunters. Her eyes landed on the man who must have caused them this distress. She began to see red in her vision and began to walk towards the man.

When she reached him, she raised her bow, her symbol of power, and said, "You have attacked my hunters, Perseus. For that, you will pay with your life."

A golden light appeared near her and Apollo in his battle armour appeared," And I will help you, sister. You have attacked my daughter, Perseus. This gives me enough reason to kill you."

To their surprise, the man just laughed, "The Twin Archers of Olympus. This is going to be fun."


In the space between void and matter

"Have you done what I asked of you?" The voice within the matter resonated.

"No, Father. I alone am unable to do so." His son, the man who stood near the glowing nebula stated.

"Gather our brethren and open as much as realms as possible. Earth should be overrun." The voice commanded.

"And what of the prophecy?"

"The prophecy would be futile. Nothing can stop me this time. I think it's time I see the moon goddess. See how much she knows about the coming battle. This is going to be fun."


Reviews are welcome, always. Also, anyone who can write fighting scenes is most welcome to be my beta-writer.

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