Greeks are more one to one powerhouses, Romans were more teamwork based and that is reflected in their styles... I think that is important to remember even for Aaron who is a mix of American styles and Greek fighting...
Aaron felt touched when he entered the collesium, seeing the armor that Alex was standing besides. They, and the weapons, were perfectly crafted and just his size. He was a big boy, muscular and strong, so he needed equally large armor and a big sword and sheild, which is exactally what he got. They were purple, the color of Stygian iron, and they radiated underworld power. He felt them as he approached.
" Can I even wear these, I thought you needed divine blood to harness their power even with necromatic power?" He asked, not wanting to be a plebe but just as touched as before.
Alex shook his cute head. "Nope! So long as it does not penetrate you, you can use it as long as you can use mystical metals. The power over Necromatic magics keeps it's cold from sinking into your veins. I thought you would like it! We only had one set of armor and blades, all your size for some reason."
Touched even more, and wondering if a God had sent it for him... Aaron quickly donned it all. "Thank you, my friend... seriously, I am honored."
"They were made by a child of Pluto and Vulcan working as one about three hundred years ago. I remember the swelling it made, the air of the Camp shifted for days. They were arrested, the two of them, so feared was the use of Underworld magic."
"Amazing... and they did fit, perfectly... why is that? I wasn't tied to this world until I chose to be... they couldn't have foreseen me?"
"No, but the magic might have adjusted them? Who knows really."
Aaron focused his senses onto the metals and sensed that, in fact, that they were enchanted to fix themself to the size a person needed to have to use them. Only within certian limitations though, they were made for a bigger host like him. "Huh... that's interesting."
"I figured you'd like them. Check out the sword!" Alex was all but jumping, giggling all the while.
Unable to mask his laughter, Aaron pulled out his sword and was amazed to see a beautiful sheek, black radiant piece of Stygian Iron. It was utterly smooth and super sharp, it could cut through flesh like butter. Bone like butter... The sheild was just as nice, wood ringed with stygian iron and blessed with strength and a natural foundation of power. It would hold up to a lot, and was naturally resistant to heat and electricity as Stygian iron was.
"Wow... you did so good Alex, I'd hug you but all this Styigan Iron might hurt you. Remind me later."
The boy giggled madly. "Beat their butts silly! Show them what your mortal might can do!"
"Oh I will!" And so Aaron put his sword in it's sheath, attached to his back. It felt strange, holding onto Divine metals. This was his first time weilding them, and it was a strange thing really... He felt empowered but also deeply in danger now that these metals could be used to harm him. A double edged sword to say the least.
"What are you going to do with your old stuff? The old sword and sheild and hoodie?" Alex asked, his head tipped to the side.
"Probably reenchant it, eventually... I have the skill and power now, but I would do better if I could use Roman magic to make it tighter, more connected and developed. Maybe teach you all how to do it so you can make more armor etc... you get the idea."
"A noble idea." They both jumped, Ghost and Necromancer, as D'Anthony appeared behind them. The young man laughed at them. "Too easy... you will be going first, against Octavian who asked to test your mettle himself. I would advise you beat him, quickly. You have many foes this days, Jason also wants to see where you rank. Prove your worth today... I should warn you, the Fifth Cohort is seen as the worst and many will taunt and tease you for it. They will not be on your side... and that means to prove your mettle you must try harder then most. I am sorry for that."
Aaron just shrugged. "I am pure mortal, I am used to trying harder then everyone else."
"Good... you will need that if you are to succeed. Now the rules. No killing, you beat your enemy until they cannot fight or are pinned or are forced out by the referee, which is me in this case. I will make sure the fights are fair and within reason. You are new, but I will not go easy on you. I want to see how skilled you truely are."
Aaron nodded. "I see no issue there."
"Good... now, your fight begins in fifteen minutes. I will see your shortly."
Shaking himself loose, Aaron followed Alex to the entrance where he would be funnel out to fight Octavian. Channeling the Earth's majesty for strength, he allowed it's power to soothe his nerves. He was a good fighter but he never really went agaisnt Demigods in constant battle, Spirits and Saytrs sure, but demigods... not really. He knew he was good enough to go against an Olympic Athelete, he had to be to fight monsters, but to go against someone with divine blood... that was harder. There was a reason at Camp Halfblood he never played Capture the Flag!
'No, I got this... I am skilled, I am powerful and Lupa herself has faith in me. I can do this.'
"And in this corner, the newest member of the Legion, the potent Sorcerer delivered by Queen Juno herself, Aaron Mathews!" Aaron shuddered a little bit and walked into the arena, into the bright lights and loudness of the roaring crowd. He saw his opponent was already there, Octavian the human scarecrow, leeched and bleached of all things that made a child of Apollo special... or that was how he had been. Apparently Apollo had blessed him for the boy was almost glowing with health, life and strength. He was garbed in powerful golden armor that fit loosely around him, and armed with a spear giving him the distance game. However, all of that paled when compared to the blessing. It was a temporary blessing, Aaron knew well enough, but it was enough that Octavian would present a challenge...
"Are you ready!" D'Anthony, armed in his own armor, said. "I want a good clean fight... if you are ready... then FIGHT!"
Octavian almost blurred the distance between them, jabbing with his spear. Aaron dodged it easily, grabbing the spear with his shield hand and yanking the boy forward enough to make him slip up. Lifitng his foot up, he slammed it home into Octavian's chest sending him flying back. The boy coughed, wheezing but the aura of Apollo's blessing eased his pain and discomfort within seconds. It was clearly a healing factor of a sorts, which made Octavian really dangerous.
"Cheap tactics." Octavian barked out, slashing with his spear, which actually sent ripples up Aaron's sheild arm when he blocked it and lashed out with his own shorter blade, scraping across the golden armor of the Legacy of Apollo. A thin line of frost appeared at the contact, before hissing away at Apollo's blessing.
Frowning, Aaron sighed. "Cheap but they keep me alive, we can't all recieve blessings from an Olympian for power." Octavian hissed and paled, clearly not expecting him to notice apparently. " I can see the blessing, it lingers on you like sunshine. No matter, I will still win." Charging forward, he slammed his whole body into Octavian's armor, sending him onto his back. Without hesitation, he knocked aside Octavian's spear and placed his sword at the boy's unvieled throat. "I win."
D'Anthony, approached. "AARON WINS!"
The crowd exploded, especially the Lares who now seemed to like him thanks to Alex, into laughter and cheers. Not taking his eyes off of Octavian, he backed up from him and let the crowds cheers wash over him. He could actually see Apollo's blessing fade away into nothing, no longer active thanks to Octavian losing against a mortal witch. He with mystical blood losing agaisnt one without a trace of mystical blood... it was funny really. Octavian got up, his face reddened with rage but he did not attack. Instead he all but stomped away, muttering hatefully. People were mockingly laughing at him, even his own Cohort. It was actually kind of funny really, sad but funny.
"Good job... now get ready, your next opponent will be much harder. Larry Hines, son of Mercury!"
Another boy came out, he was shorter and squirelly with a cute face. He had a net and trident, a rare combination, a retiarius... and Aaron knew how to fight them, having taken the classes at Camp Halfblood alongside Percy.
"Ready! Fight!"
Aaron charged, slicing his sword through the net at his came down towards him, using his sheild hand to grab the net and toss it aside. He easily knocked aside the trident with his sword with a backswing and slammed his sheild into the little guy's chest with his sheild. Without hesitating, he grabbed the straps of Larry and used them to literally toss the guy onto his front. He put a foot on his lower back and a sword at his neck.
"Another win for Aaron!" The crowd went wild again, and this time he heard people mentioning bets and whatnot... he had a feeling that many people bet against him, and were now far poorer for it.
Aaron was happy for that, they got what they deserved for betting agaisnst him.
"""
After six more fights, Aaron was ready to drop, but they kept on challenging him. People that wanted to prove themselves, people that saw him as an upstart, people that wanted an easy fight... each time he won since most of his enemies were using the same tactics. The Roman style was rigid, but adapable and that gave him a severe advantage. It was clear they were more designed for fighting in groups, unlike his Greek/American style that was more about individual skill. Still, he was weaking even as he started using the Earth to heal himself between matches. It was clear though that he was not healing at a Demigod rate here, and so he was weakening severely. It was time for his final match, against Jason himself...
Aaron knew he stood no chance, it was almost prophetic, but he could sense that Jason was a powerful warrior. He stood like one, he radiated comfort with himself and his skills. Still, the mortal witch would give it his all. He wanted to prove himself capable against their best, which Jason most definitely was. The powerful boy was not to be trifled with.
From his waiting area, where Alex was hyping him up with a barking Lydia ( who was doing the same, if he was being honest) Aaron drew on the Earth as much as he could, easing his various wounds and bruises. He was covered in them, his head ringing from a harsh headbutt from a son of Mars. He would need days to recover entirely, even with meditation, but he was sure he could manage this last fight. At least enough to showcase his ability...
"You got this Aaron! Your so awesome, you fight like a Greek but you are still amazing!" Alex said as he tried to rub his shoulders like a stereotypical boxer's coach. "You can whoop my brother!"
"Yah, Jason is your brother isn't he, you were a son of Jupiter when you were alive, right?"
Alex nodded. "Yup, I died in Pompeii but my spirit lingered. Anyway, we can talk about that later... you need to focus, so you can beat Jason!"
Laughing, Aaron shook his head. " I won't win, but I will give it my all. He's got the advantage of being fresh and far more powerful and well trained then I am. Better reflexes, healing factor, strength... he'll win, but I will show that I am not to be doubted. Hell, I know for a fact that if you guys weren't all trained in the exact same style, I would have lost three fights ago. I am such a wild card with my unique style, which is designed more for single combat, you guys with your more rigid teamwork based style just can't keep up in one to one fights... Sigh..." getting up, he stretched and readied himself. " Time to face my doom... see you shortly, Alex."
"Kick butt!" Alex cheered as Aaron approached the gate, ready to be called out once more.
Aaron just hoped he'd be concious when the fight ended...
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was fun to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.