Chapter 42

The weight off Jason's shoulders when he saw his cousins enter the Praetoria was immense. The hug he offered the two was all the relief he could manage though in the face of what was coming. He informed the two that the legion was ready, and a preliminary scouting party had already been sent forward with Michael Kahale leading them. The pegasi corps under Reyna's guidance was already running flyovers, and the reports were not inspiring confidence. It seemed the Titans were preparing for the invasion of Rome, but this mattered little to legions leadership. There was after all no other choice in what came next.

Retired members of the legion around the country had also been called upon to drive trucks, busses, suburbans, and armored vehicles to the base of their invasion to help transport the invading force. Transporting the five cohorts to the Black Fortress was the priority. Their force needed to be well rested, and not coming off days of marching. Regardless of that they didn't have the time to march. They were on the clock and the survival of Olympus was on the line.

Percy was turning his trident in his hand methodically the next morning as he waited for his Command staff to arrive at his tent. Bianca stood with her arms crossed looking at the map before them with a determined expression on her face. They had spent most of the evening going over their battle plans with Jason, and the other Praetorians. Their plan was sound, but every good leader knew that a battle plan rarely ever survived the initial encounter.

The legion had arrived at the foot of Mount Othrys merely an hour ago. Being the invading force there wasn't much of a chance to take the Titan's fortress by surprise. They had set up camp, and the legions engineers were digging, entrenching the lines in case the need to retreat fell upon them. It wouldn't be the best work the legion was capable of, but given the time that they had it would have to do. Jason stepped into the tent with Michael and Reyna at his back. Shortly following behind him were the Praetorians and what remained of the Centurions. They all gathered around the map without a word, and Percy snapped his trident in his hand, and placed it on the magnets on his back that were supplied by his brother. Taking a deep breath he closed his eyes for a moment taking in the inevitable battle.

In the day it had been since he bathed in the River Styx his body had been thrumming with energy. It was almost as if his body was begging to release the power within him upon his enemies. A part of it was certainly his own nervous anticipation of what was to come, but another part of him knew he was worried that he had not had the proper time to test the curse of Achilles in battle. Every mortal person in the world that he cared about was going to be participating in this battle, and they were all counting on him to get them through this. For a moment he didn't even want to glance at the table that held the map, and their battle plans. Because around it were the people he cared about most, and it was almost a certainty that not all of them would live to see the end of this battle. If any of them would at all. Steeling his nerves, knowing they were all depending on him, he turned, and walked to the table to a spot that Jason and Bianca had left for him, "You all know the plan. The Praetor's and I will be leading the head of the assault force into battle. The pegasi corps will be led by Reyna, and they will be doing their best to make sure we encounter no aerial assaults, as well as destroying any type of long range weapons they may try to use on us. We can expect heavy fortifications around the walls, and we will be treating it just like War Games. First to get over the wall, breach the perimeter, and survive can expect military accommodations when the battle is over. We should be expecting a wide variety of enemies to come spilling out of the gates once we reach the top as well. I have it on good authority that we are expecting no issues from the Oceanfront of this battlefield. Olympian Intervention is doubtful, and barring something unforeseen we are on our own."

The assembled group had grave looks on their faces at his words, but he took a deep breath, and plunged on, "We have all trained our whole lives for this. Praetorians…all those extra hours…all those missions, they prepared us for this moment. Protect each other, and I swear to you as long as there's breath remaining in my body today I will do what I can to protect each of you."

A series of nods followed his words, and he returned it, "Gather your troops we will begin immediately."

Saluts and cries of yes Consul followed his words, and everyone except Bianca and Jason departed the tent at once. Jason never took his eyes off the map as Percy glanced over to him. Jason took a deep breath, "Some of our friends are going to die today."

Bianca sighed before saying, "Death is a part of life Jason. We must make sure that the loss the legion suffers today is not for nothing."

Percy nodded, "The Titans want to rule the world with an iron fist. Show no mercy to the innocent, or our kind. They would see us hunted to extinction. We must do everything in our power to ensure this does not happen."

Jason shook his head, "I am going to make them pay for the lives they took during the Battle for the Labyrinth. It was a pleasure fighting beside you two over the years. I love you both immensely. You are both the family I always wanted."

A silence fell over the trio and Bianca began to smile walking around to Jason wrapping an arm around her cousin, "Look Grace don't get too sentimental on us now. We all love each other, and we are ALL going to be drinking Cokes on the Little Tiber in just a few days' time. Maybe then we can rest over a grateful universe."

"It's going to be born out of blood." Jason said, unable to shake the feeling that this would be the last time they all spoke together.

"But the world will never know it." Percy returned, "And it's our duty as children of Olympus to ensure that. Don't lose faith Jason. We can do this."

Jason nodded, putting his arm around Bianca, and pulling Percy into the hug as well, "I am going to check on cohorts. I will see you guys on the front line."

When they all separated Bianca offered a final reassuring pat on Jason's cheek, and he forced a smile at his younger cousin before departing the room without a second look. When it was just the two of them Bianca sighed, "He doesn't think he is going to survive the coming fight."

"It's hard to think any of us will." Percy replied honestly, "We have no idea what we are up against. At least one Titan for sure if the dreams he has been having are any indication."

Bianca shook her head, "No Titan other than Saturn himself is a match for the three of us, and that was before your dip in the Styx."

Jason had confided in his cousin that he had dreamt over multiple nights about a Titan that had a golden helmet pacing near the Black Throne. He had been muttering about murdering the children of skies, and Jason feared that Thalia and himself would be the Titan's target. Percy had assured his best friend that he would not be facing any Titan alone, but Jason seemed to know something that he was unwilling to share with his cousins, and the Consul could admit he was nervous about what they may face on the mountain.

A hand slipped into his own, and a set of lips touched his cheek, "I love you Percy. We can do this. You are going to lead us to victory. I have every faith in that."

Turning to face the brown eyed daughter of Pluto Percy pulled the girl to him in a soft kiss, "I love you too. Keep an eye on Jason, and protect each other at all cost."

She frowned for a moment, "What about you?"

The young man separated from the girl he loved, and pulled the trident off his back, "I am going to make the Titans pay for what they are attempting to do to my family. I have trained nearly every waking moment for this, and it's time I show the world just why I was trusted to be the child of the prophecy."

Drawing one of her swords she smiled at the confidence of her boyfriend while taking his offered hand. Weapons drawn the two stepped out of the tent into the campgrounds, and Percy immediately bore witness to something he had known was coming from the day his brother told him of the prophecy. Every capable man, woman, and child of Rome was here prepared to fight, and it was a sight to see. The cohorts were tightly assembled in formation, and Jason was standing at the front of them all with grim determination on his face looking at the mountain above. That old familiar power from when Lord Pluto had been here at Percy's side years before was much more prominent this go around. The smoldering ruins that were rising from the ashes were now gone, and a castle stood on the plateau above.

Percy walked hand in hand with Bianca through the ranks, and it seemed every set of eyes except Jasons' were on them as they made their way to the front. Bianca released his hand when they made it to the front, and began summoning the shadows to assemble her armor, and draw her other sword. Percy on the other hand merely walks to Jason's side with his trident in hand saying quietly, "Are you ready?"

Jason merely gave a nod in return, and Percy turned to face the cohorts. He received a nod from each of the Praetorians, and Centurions. Then from Reyna who was in the lead of dozens of pegasi and their riders. Pulling his helmet from off his belt Percy placed it on his head raising his trident to the sky as the clouds above began to darken and form together, "TWELFTH LEGION. Let us raze this fortress to the ground. Allow me to lead the way."

Bianca raised her sword screaming out, "FULMINATA!"

The legion answered her cry at once, and Percy began to walk in front of the legion that was assembled behind him, and Jason screamed out a command in Latin which started the inevitable clashing of swords on shields. The sound was deafening as they marched forward towards the cliff walls. Looking up and down the cliff facings were dozens of what seemed like unmanned fortifications that Percy suspected would soon be occupied when they were in attacking range. They were maybe a few hundred feet below the plateau, and dozens of feet below each fortification which would give the assaulting force a break in between climbs. The Consul of Rome did not believe the attack on them would let up however until they could start their siege on the castle itself. It would be a bloody uphill battle, and many lives would be lost along the way.

The first sight of the enemy spurred Percy forward. Dozens of archers began spilling out onto the fortifications as the legion got within one hundred yards of the first cliff facings, and the Consul of Rome knew it was time for the blood shed to begin.

With a war cry leaving his throat Percy surged forward towards the first cliff facing, and launched himself into the air, impaling his trident into the mountain side while propelling himself upwards in an inhuman show of strength towards the first fortification that had been thirty feet above him. He had reached his destination in a flash, and his enemy was a mixture of creatures, and near human appearances. He wasted no time in discriminating however as arrows rained upon him in seemingly every direction. Friendly fire quickly became a problem for the enemy, but their biggest problem was a trident that was a blur of motion. The mountain side seemed to tremble with Percy's footsteps as he bounced off the wall, hurled his trident into an enemy fifteen yards away, while yanking an incoming sword out of demigods hands, and decapitating him in a swift motion. With the two fast follow up motions Percy deflected an incoming strike with his stolen sword, and thrust it into another enemy. Leaving the stolen sword in the dying throes of an empousa he turned, catching an arrow fired at the back of his head, snapping it in half, and then thrusting both pieces into another incoming cyclops. Not waiting for the creature to dissolve Percy summoned his trident back to his hands and in a rainbow like motion took down a lunging hellhound, and a Dracaena.

Not feeling even slightly winded Percy instinctively twirled and slammed the butt of his trident into the mountain side creating a diagonal fissure that caused another nearby fortification to crumble, while also creating a bit of cover in the rubble for the legionnaires down below. Jason was the first to reach Percy, and he looked at the young man with wide eyes, while the son of the seas batted away an arrow coming straight for the son of Jupiter, "I think the bathing in the River worked."

The look Jason gave him was unimpressed, "I couldn't tell."

Grinning at the boy, Percy winked, "See you at the top Grace."

Not even bothering with the ropes or gear that had been brought to scale the mountain Percy took off in a run in the directions of the next fortification. When he reached the drop off he merely jumped onto the wall, and felt the very earth respond to him as he dashed across the mountain side, and drew the fire of the enemy in the next fortification. When he landed the concrete cracked below him, and dropped to a knee ducking under the strike of a lunging archer, while carving the man open, and blocking an arrow fired at his face from a second. Both were dead in seconds as Percy carved a path of destruction through the fortification. Taking cover as dozens of arrows flew towards him he was given a chance to spot the advancing cohorts below. It seemed most of the legion was now scaling the mountain, and he was drawing a lot of enemy fire. Knowing he couldn't stop now he turned to the next fortification, but before he could launch himself in that direction his instincts screamed at him to move as he dove to the side, and a blast of fire narrowly missed burning him alive. Looking behind him a red drakon was coming back for a second round. Growling in anger Percy jumped towards the wall, and displaying another bout of superhuman strength bounced off launching himself off the cliff to dodge a second wave of fire, and landing on the dragon's back. The dragon thrashed as it attempted to dismount its new rider, but Percy held on for dear life allowing it to carry him upwards before delivering it a finishing blow by injecting his trident straight through the beast making it dissolve in golden dust. As Percy dove back towards the mountain side he chose a new fortification to destroy, and wasted no time in doing so when landing.

Looking down below the son of Neptune realized he was most of the way there, but couldn't leave his people too far behind. Having risen above most of the enemy line he quickly searched for an answer on how he could help when the Garden of Hesperides was seen in the distance. Having never attempted to pull water from this distance Percy reached out, and felt a sharp tug in his stomach as the water began to answer his call in the distance. With a grin the demigod swirled his hands as if he was a conductor as the water closed its distance, and smashed into a fortification directly below him sweeping the enemy of Rome away. A cheer came from below as a shadow created by Percy's water swept enemy after enemy away.

With a thrust of Percy's hands the water that had dozens of enemies gathered up was hurled off the mountain. Heaving for breath Percy slumped over for a moment as he took cover behind a wall that the enemy had created in hope of defending its archers. Several minutes passed, and the sounds of fighting rang on. An occasional lightning strike would rain down from the heavens and obliterate a fortification giving the advancing legion more cover to climb, while walls of different metals collapsed others courtesy of his two best friends.

The long fight to the top was made much easier by the son of the sea's decimation of the enemies out lying defenses. When Percy did make it to the top he stared at what lied before him with grim realization. This fight was far from over. The Minotaur stood with a massive battle ax in his hands, with a familiar pair of gorgons at its side.

Bianca this time was the first to reach the top as she materialized from the shadows at his side. This was followed by Jason, and many members of the fifth cohort. Cries of triumph rang from the legion as more and more of its numbers reached the top, and the enemy merely watched as the group assembled, having seemingly been defeated the outer defenses of the Titans forces. The Black Fortress in all its horrible glory was now in front of the legion, with a massive set of black entry doors.

The doors opened before Percy could give the orders to attack, and the army parted allowing a large figure to emerge. The man was easily eight foot tall, and seemed demonic with his golden eyes barely shining through his rammed horn helmet. A Titan undoubtedly.

Jason stepped beside Percy as the legion began hurling out battle cries and insults at the gathered enemy. Jason spat at the ground, "That's Krios. He is my test Percy. You have to breach the doors, and destroy the Black Throne. At all cost we cannot fail in that endeavor. Take Bianca, and I will ensure our army survives."

Percy turned and said quietly to his cousin, "I'm not going to let you fight that Titan alone Jason. That's not how we do things."

Nico materialized out of the shadows before Jason could retort, "Percy it worked."

Seemingly noticed the approaching golden enemy Nico gripped his sword tighter, "Krios."

Jason nodded at the young man while Percy stared at the young man, "Will you help Jason keep this Titan busy while your sister and I breach the castle?"

"Well I don't usually get what I want anyways, so may as well do something worthwhile." Turning his eyes to Jason he sighed, "We will take him together. Percy if the Black Throne doesn't fall this will all be for nothing."

Taking a deep breath the cackling of the Titan drew Percy from his thoughts to challenge the plan, "Come son of Jupiter. It is your destiny to die by my hand!"

Gripping his trident tighter than ever before Percy raged internally before saying, "I will be back to help you as soon as possible."

Turning to face Bianca Percy took a deep breath preparing himself for what he was about to do, "Stay behind me. I will keep you safe while we breach these bastards defenses and get inside."

Bianca offered him a sharp nod, and the four children of the eldest gods stared ahead at their enemies as the legion screamed for blood.

(A/N) Part 1 of the assault on Mount Othrys is concluded. Stay tuned!

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