I'M ALIVE *GASPS* Honestly, working life is so much harder than it looks like. Respect to all the FanFiction authors who are in full time work. It's tough.
Also, shoutout to Devil's Touch, who gave me a touching review encouraging me to carry on writing. To everyone out there, let's start a movement to leave nice reviews. Spread some love by encouraging writers. There are so many amazing stories out there that are left half-written. Life is hard. Don't let the world extinguish your passions and hobbies.
Devil's Touch, this chapter is for you.
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More legionnaires returned to Camp Jupiter throughout the morning, arriving from all over the country in a mismatched mix of clothing and hastily-packed suitcases until, at noon, the Twelfth Legion was at last wholly assembled.
Two full cohorts paraded along the Via Praetoria at noon, ninety-eight legionnaires in all, their polished armour shining like golden drachmas in the California sun. In addition to their strength two Greek scouts had touched down a few minutes ago, bringing news of a main force of a hundred Greeks two hours away.
Senior Centurion Larry decided to break for lunch. He would give the legion a few hours' rest while the Greeks arrived and organised themselves, then together the two units would march to support the rest of the Legion at Mount Othrys.
All his plans went out the window when the horns sounded one hour later. Everybody froze, then their training kicked in and they scrambled to muster. Senior Centurion Larry rushed up to the ramparts of Camp Jupiter where two lookouts were blowing the horn.
"What is it?"
One lookout pointed north to the Berkeley Hills. "Smoke signal, Centurion. The lookout there must have spotted something."
A giant eagle came wheeling out of the sky, landing on a large platform that had been specifically designed for giant eagles. Another lookout slid off the eagle's back, spotted the Centurion and rushed over.
"Centurion, there is an army of monsters coming down from the north."
Larry's blood turned to ice. "What? How many? How far?"
"A few hundred of them at least. They'll be here within an hour."
Larry stared north, his eyes roving past the undefended city, the Field of Mars and the Berkeley Hills.
"Order the Legion to assemble on the Field of Mars. Full battle order. Go."
The scout ran for the stairs.
"Dani!" he shouted for the Centurion on duty, who was supposed to be overseeing all activities within the camp.
Centurion Dani ran across the wall to him, sensing the urgency of the situation.
"Are the two Greek scouts still here?" Larry asked her.
"They should still be in the dining hall eating lunch."
"Tell them to head back to the Greeks immediately. There is an army of monsters coming. The Legion is outnumbered. I need their support."
Dani nodded. "Do you have any orders for them?"
"The Legion will hold the Field of Mars. Tell the Greeks to engage on our right flank."
"Don't you want to use the Berkeley Hills?" Dani asked, surprised. Romans always held the high ground where possible.
"We don't have enough time to fortify the hills." Larry shook his head. "I'll turn out the Legion. You get to the Greek scouts."
Dani threw a hasty salute and ran off.
Larry turned back to the two scouts. "You two stay sharp. Monitor the borders. Sound the horns if you see anything.
He left the ramparts and headed down to the Via Praetoria, where he saw with some satisfaction that his Third Cohort was already formed and ready.
"Deploy in front of the Pomerian Line on the Field of Mars. I will join you there shortly."
The Third Cohort marched out through the Praetorian Gate. A dozen newly-arrived legionnaires fell in behind the marching Third, adding to their numbers as they marched past. Others were coming out of the barracks, strapping on armour and swords. Further down the street yet more legionnaires from the temporarily-formed Sixth Cohort, made up of legionnaires who did not stay year-round in Camp, had begun to form their own ranks. Larry ordered them to the Field of Mars.
"The rest of them will follow once they're ready. You go first. No need to wait for them." With the enemy's speed unknown, Larry wanted to put as many legionnaires as possible between them and the city.
The Pegasi scouts took off in a flurry of beating wings, heading east toward the rest of the Greek forces. Larry pulled on his helmet and ran down the Via Praetoria, shouting for the siege machines and giant eagles as he raced toward the city.
"Terminus!" he shouted as he came within earshot of the city limits.
The closest Terminus statue came to life at his voice, leaning towards him so hard that it looked he would topple from his pedestal.
"Centurion Larry, there is an army of-"
"I know!" Larry yelled breathlessly. "Lock down the city!"
"Very good." The statue twisted in place to start yelling orders.
About seventy or eighty legionnaires were deployed on the Field of Mars by the time he arrived, arrayed in battle order facing the Berkeley Hills. Larry came onto the scene just in time to see the enemy appear on the other side of the valley, streaming down the hills toward their position. They looked to be about three or four hundred strong, good enough odds against his hundred men.
"Two ranks!" he shouted to his troops. "Open the line!" Despite the two forces being roughly equal in strength, the enemy army might outflank them with their superior numbers. Larry needed a wide front to counter them and could only hope that the thin Roman line did not collapse under the onslaught.
The last of the Sixth Cohort reached his position and joined the line. The legionnaires were solemn and silent, staring at the approaching enemy as they lined up shoulder-to-shoulder. Many in the Sixth were young or new campers who had never seen battle before. Some of them were praying. Others were shaking with fear. Larry stifled the urge to order them to stay still, fighting down his own nervousness as he stared down the line. The Sixth would surely break if they saw that their own commander was afraid.
The enemy army was closer now, almost into range of the Legion's spears. An eerie silence settled over the waiting legionnaires. The drumming of hundreds of running feet sounded unnaturally loud in Larry's ears, but before the fear could hit him he filled his lungs.
"Pila!"
The entire Roman line seemed to twitch as they lifted their spears over their shoulders.
"FIRE!" Larry roared.
A hundred spears went up into the air, sending a writhing shadow across the shrinking ribbon of ground between the two armies. Before the heavy shafts could land the Romans had launched three more.
The first eager ranks were battered down by barrage of spears. All along the line monsters collapsed, bursting into golden dust and empty sets of armour. The enemy charge came to a complete halt in the face of the Romans' firepower and the Legion let out a massive cheer as they saw the enemy pull back.
The monsters regrouped and came forward again. The legionnaires drew their swords as one, locking their shields to form a wall across the field. The monsters howled enough to fill the world and raced the last few metres onto the legionnaires' swords.
The first of the monsters reached the Roman line and were cut down with a vicious efficiency, then the main bulk of the enemy piled into the shield wall like rugby players and the Roman line was forced back.
The Roman gladius was a deadly weapon in such close quarters. The Twelfth Legion hacked through the enemy with the short, heavy blades, shoving back against the snarling horde with their broad shields. The few archers present fired into the enemy flanks as fast as they could, trying to keep the enemy from spilling around.
"Hold your ground!" Larry bellowed.
The legionnaires were starting to make headway through the crowd of monsters. The shield wall advanced, the double line of Romans stepping over empty sets of armour and assorted skulls, tusks and talons. A thick layer of golden dust covered the grass behind them, marking their progress as they continued to push the enemy away from the city.
Three injured legionnaires backed out of the Sixth Cohort line, pale with shock under the grime and dust of the battle. One of them fell to his knees, clutching at a talon embedded in his side. Another collapsed, while the third remained a pace behind the line, sword in hand. Two legion medics ran over to the trio of casualties. Larry gave the mixed group a single glance, then flickered his gaze back to the battle. As much as he wanted to check on them personally, the rest of the Legion required his undivided attention.
Then the sound of conch horns reached his ears. A cheer went up from the Romans as a large group of Pegasi came soaring in from the east, carrying Camp Half-Blood's warriors on their backs. Larry's heart soared.
The first wave of Camp Half-Blood's attack comprised strafing Athena and Apollo campers double-mounted on horseback. Javelins and arrows were launched with deadly accuracy, decimating monsters as they turned to meet the sudden threat. Pegasi kicked monsters in the head, soaring away before their slashing talons could reply. Athena campers' swords flashed and came back spattered with golden blood. As quickly as they had arrived, the formation of riders pulled up and wheeled away before the monsters could gather their wits.
Just as the enemy was beginning to regroup, Camp Half-Blood launched a second attack. Ten flying chariots came swooping in, loaded with incendiary Greek fire bombs and Celestial bronze grenades. A line of green explosions erupted in their wake as they soared over the battlefield.
The monster army broke. No force could have stood against the Greeks' assault. Giants trampled smaller monsters underfoot in their haste to escape. Harpies scattered to the skies, only to be shot down as Camp Half-Blood's Pegasi came in for a second strafe. The Roman line accelerated into a charge, mowing down monsters like grass.
"Centurion!" A pegasus landed next to him. A blond-haired guy in leather armour dismounted and sheathed his bloody sword.
"Malcolm Pace, son of Athena."
Larry shook his hand. "Larry. Third Cohort."
"Where's the rest of your troops?" Malcolm asked. "I thought you had two hundred."
"Two hundred and fifty," Larry corrected. "But the rest of them have left for the assault. We're all that's left."
The two commanders surveyed the battlefield. Larry's eyes were drawn to a handful of injured legionnaires.
"It was fortunate you arrived when you did," he told Malcolm. "We might have had some trouble otherwise."
"We came as fast as we could," Malcolm agreed. "Good thing we were ahead of schedule."
More pegasus riders were touching down, bringing healers from the Apollo cabin. The wounded were stretchered back to the city. The flying chariots descended on the battlefield, gunning down monsters with mounted crossbows.
"They'll be back." Malcolm echoed Larry's thoughts.
"We'll be ready for them." Larry turned towards the battlefield to order his legionnaires to cease their pursuit.
"Malcolm!" A pegasus wheeled overhead, its rider pointing north. "The hills! Look!"
Larry followed her gaze and his blood ran cold. Malcolm swore.
Monsters appeared on the Berkeley Hills, thousands and thousands of them, a vast horde of marching troops spreading like a dark stain across the Berkeley Hills. Hellhounds and harpies, telkhines and wild centaurs. It was a scene from Tartarus, Larry's worst nightmare unfolding before his eyes.
"Back!" the shout went up from the Greek demigods. "Back to the city!"
"Fall back!" Larry ordered.
The Legion kept their line as they marched backwards, every eye trained on the enemy force. Greek Pegasi riders wheeled overhead, covering the retreating troops.
The combined demigod army gathered just outside the city limits, nervously facing the enemy across the Field of Mars.
Nothing happened. The enemy held their position, more and more of them deploying onto the hills.
"They're waiting," Larry realised.
"Waiting for what?" Dani asked.
"Night." Malcolm answered. The son of Athena pointed to the sun, which was beginning to sink toward the horizon. "They'll be back at nightfall."
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Dun dun dunnn! Camp Jupiter is set for an epic showdown in chapter 6.