Chapter 11: How Do You Stop The World's Strongest Man?
(Author's Note)
Hey everyone. Sorry about the delay but this was hard to write because of reason you'll find out in the story. I'd normally say some stuff but it's after 10 and I gotta get up at 4 for work, so I'm going to bed right after I post this. Sorry for any mistakes or typos, I didn't have time to check for them. If you guys find a lot I'll edit them. Just let me know.
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Chapter 11: How Do You Stop The World's Strongest Man?
[Recap: After meeting with the goddess Artemis and hearing that Olympus was on the verge of civil war and that the gods were hiding in order to keep the secret of their current weakening state, Rachel revealed to the Council that she had been attacked and that Leonidas was a traitor and working with the mysterious Titaness that had entered Percy's mind not once, but twice warning him to avoid fighting Leonidas.
With this information, Percy ordered the camp to prepare to confront Leonidas and arrest him with the intention of keeping him prisoner until the Promised Day has passed.]
(June 3, 2011) (The Next Day)
"Do you really think that this is the best course of action?" Annabeth and Percy were making their way through their microscopic apartment getting ready for the day ahead. A day, that would surely change Percy's life, but for the better or worse, he did not know. Today was the day that the War Council had decided to arrest Leonidas and hold him prisoner until after the Promised day after learning that he was conspiring with a Titaness. But it went further than that, Percy, along with the goddess Artemis, suspected that Leonidas had been sent to camp by Zeus, the king of the gods, to either kill Percy outright or to keep an eye on him and then kill him if need be. While Artemis may have believed this wholeheartedly, Percy was a little… less sure. It just didn't make sense to him that if Leonidas was sent to kill him, then why hadn't he yet? He and Percy had both been at camp together for two months now and the large man had yet to even do anything that would make you suspicious of him. And it was because of these thoughts that had been endlessly plaguing his mind since yesterday, preventing him from sleeping, that Percy didn't realize that Annabeth had been talking to him until she waved a hand in front of his face.
"I'm sorry, what?" Percy blinked, moving his back slightly from the suddenness of having something put in front of his face. From in front of him he heard her sigh.
"I asked if you really think this is the best course of action, Percy." She followed him as they went from their room to their adjoined bathroom to get ready for the day, "I mean I'm all for determining if Leonidas is a threat, secretly, that is. But to do something rash like arresting him on the spot? What if he was really sent by Zeus? Do you really think that the king of the gods would let us imprison Leonidas?"
Percy grabbed his stick of deodorant and applied it as they talked. "...I honestly don't know." He told her truthfully. "But what I do know is that we've been a step behind the gods and Leonidas since the beginning. And if we don't do something soon then either Leonidas will destroy Olympus or kill me. So I think that our only course of action is to remove him from the board. It's like you said at the meeting, if Leonidas is Zeus' best chess piece, then we need to get rid of him before he can fulfil the Prophecy."
Annabeth sighed as she ran her wet fingers through her hair, arranging it in front of the mirror. "I did say that, but I also said that it was risky, I mean, this is Leonidas we're talking about here, Percy. I shouldn't have to be the one to tell you that he won't go down easily, you're the one that admitted that you didn't know if you could take him by yourself."
"But I'll never know unless I try." He told her adamantly. "Besides, I won't be alone, I'll have you and the rest of the Council with me. And if that's not enough, Clarisse has set up half the Ares cabin as sentries just in case. With a squad of our best Apollo archers behind them, just in case." He paused to turn to her in the minuscule bathroom, putting his hand on her cheek. "I'll be fine, Wisegirl, he's just one man, he have dozens of demigods to take him on."
"But what if you're underestimating him?" She pointed out. "What if Zeus, or this Titaness, which we still haven't learned the identity of, by the way, doesn't like that we're trying to arrest him and come down here? Do you really think that we can honestly stop him? He can defeat the entire Ares cabin in combat in only a few seconds, he can-"
"It's fine, Beth." He cut her off kindly, stepping up close to her and placing a quick peck on her forehead. "I have faith in this plan, it was yours, after all." He pulled back slightly to lift her chin up to face him. "I'll be fine, I don't know how to explain it, but I have this… feeling that I'll be okay, that I have something to do after this. Call it a premonition or vision or whatever, but I know that I'm needed for something. I need to do this, so I can do something later. Does that make sense?"
"...Not really." She admitted. He smiled and pulled her close, resting his face into her soft hair. "But since when have our lives ever made sense?"
"But enough about me, are you sure that you're up to this?" He asked softly, playing with her hair mindlessly. "You still have that bug and I heard you throwing up this morning… are you sure that you're okay?"
"I'm fine," She nodded adamantly before lightly slugging him on the shoulder. "Besides, I need to be there so I can watch your back." She let out a soft chuckle. "Gods know that you'd be useless without me."
His smile threatened to break from his face. "You know it, Wisegirl." He bent down slightly to kiss her on the lips. "Now, let's go arrest Leonidas."
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(AN: Remember to leave a Review)
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(Later that afternoon)
"Everyone have their armor? Weapons? Is everyone here?" Percy was stood on the bottom floor of the Big House in front of a large gathering of demigods. Every member of the Council was present along with several of the best fighters from the Ares cabin and the best archers from Apollo. All in all, there were over thirty demigods gathered, all here to take down one man. The mass of teenagers and young adults all either nodded or mumbled their answers, so Percy nodded and continued.
"Alright then, let's do it. Here's the plan; Amethyst is going to call Leonidas down here once our archers are in place." He sent a quick look to Will and DJ from Apollo, who nodded in return. "They, which form squad Gamma, will be positioned around the Big House behind squad Beta." He eyed the collection of the best Ares fighters in their full armor. "Squad Beta will be stationed either in the Big House or around it, based on Clarisse' orders, in the rare chance that Leonidas manages to escape. That means, while the rest of us, the Council, form squad Alpha. As squad Alpha we will be in direct confrontation with Leonidas. So prepare yourselves for a tough fight."
Several of the younger or less battle orientated members of the Council gulped or began to sweat nervously. Everyone in the camp knew how strong Leonidas was, so to directly challenge him sounded like suicide to some of them. They only hoped that Percy's belief that he might be able to talk Leonidas down and out of a fight was well founded.
"Remember," Percy went on to continue. "Leonidas may be strong, but he is only one man. There are more than thirty of us gathered here today, with our superior numbers, strategy and backup we should be able to subdue him without too much difficulty." Percy turned to face Leo. "Are the chains and shackles ready?"
The son of Hephaestus nodded as he struggled to lift the heavy Celestial Bronze chains over his head. "Sure thing, Perce. My cabin was working on them all night. Nothing is gonna be able to break these."
"Did you test them like I asked?"
"That I did, cap'n." Leo dropped the heavy chains to the floor and pointed his thumb to Mika. "I had Mika try to break them for an hour, not even a scratch on them."
"Good, we'll need them." Percy nodded, turning back to face the group. "If we cannot get Leonidas to surrender peacefully, we will move onto plan B. As you all know, plan B has three equally important steps. Step one; Jason, Clarisse, Nico, Thalia, Mika and myself will confront Leonidas in order to try to hold him down long enough to subdue him. The limited space in the room should work in our favor, we'll have all possible exits blocked, he won't be able to go anywhere. Then, the second team, Piper, Clovis and Lou Ellen will use their powers to either pacify him or put him to sleep respectively. Once he is safely passive or unconscious, and only then, will it be time for the Ares campers to get in close and put him in the Celestial Bronze shackles that Leo made. Once he is fully incapacitated, we will move him upstairs into the Celestial Bronze lined room and keep him there until after the Promised Day is over. Understood?"
He received several nods and a few half hearted 'yeahs' from the group around him. "Alright then," He continued. "Keep in mind that our goal is to subdue Leonidas, not kill him, so aim to incapacitate."
Clarisse spoke up in her full armor next to him. "But also keep in mind that if he was sent by a Titaness that he might try to kill us. So be cautious, I don't have to tell ya that Leonidas is going to be the strongest demigod you've ever fought. So watch yourselves." The daughter of Ares nodded to Percy to continue.
"If that's all, send a quick prayer to your parents or whoever is listening for protection and we'll get started. Amethyst," He looked to the daughter of Iris. "Call Leonidas down here."
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(AN: Man oh man, you guys are NOT ready for this!
...I apologize beforehand, some of you won't like me after this)
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(A few minutes later)
After Amethyst Iris Messaged Leonidas telling him to come down to the Big House because Percy needed to speak with him, the thirty or so demigods assembled got ready for his arrival. The Apollo archers lined the trees and buildings around the Big House out of site while the Ares campers were split between staying with the archers or put in different rooms in the Big House. Meanwhile, the Council- dressed in their full armor- got into position in the War Council room at their various seats. With weapons hidden under the large table. As he was making his way to his seat, Percy stopped in front of Kent, the eleven year old son of Aristaeus, gaining the boy's attention.
"I want you to leave, Kent." Percy said to the boy without so much as a greeting. The young boy looked up to Percy with confused, wide eyes that turned defiant.
"Why?" He almost demanded. "Why can't I stay? You're not telling anyone else to leave."
Percy didn't even react to his outburst. "I don't have to tell you, Kent. I have my reasons." He gestured to the door. "Now, please leave."
Jason stood up from near the head of the table. "Why-"
Percy put up a hand to silence the son of Jupiter. "Later, Jason." Turning back to the narrowed eyed boy, Percy continued. "It's not safe, Kent. I want you to leave."
"But you said that you'd need all of us to fight Leonidas! I'm a Council member too! Why can't I stay?"
"Because you're only a child!" Percy nearly yelled, standing over the boy. He let out a breath, calming himself and continuing with a kinder voice yet still authoritative voice. "Kent, you're right, you are a Council member, but only because you're the only child of Aristaeus. You. Are. Eleven. And I can't willingly let an eleven year old with no combat experience enter a fight that he might die in."
The room became deathly quiet for a few seconds after Percy finished. Several of the demigods wanting to say something but wisely deciding not to. That is, until the son of Hades stepped up to the boy after Percy walked off to his seat. Nico put a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Come on, Kent. Percy's right. It's not safe for you here."
"But I-"
Nico's voice was deathly calm, but those who knew him well could hear the compassion and emotion in his voice. "Take it from someone who knows, you're not ready for this. For death." Nico walked Kent to the bottom floor and ordered an Ares camper to walk him to his cabin. After arriving back in the room, Amethyst spoke up to the group, her voice tense and lined with anxiousness.
"He's here."
Not a half minute later the door to the room opened, revealing a towering, muscular, mountain of a man that filled the entire doorway and more, his head nearly scraping against the low ceiling. He was a solid 430lbs(195kg) of rippling muscle, nearly impervious skin and wrapped in the appearance of a modern day giant. Truly, as his heavy steps caused the floor under him to groan from his titanic weight and the very air around him seemed to vibrate, he more resembled a Monster than a man.
Stepping out of the doorway and halting a few strides from the large table, his piercing reddish-amber eyes scanned every millimeter of the room, stopping to focus on and study every other person in the room for a split millisecond more, his face not showing anything and remaining like stone. He spotted every minute detail, every beat of sweat dripping down Leo's forehead. The way Jason anxiously held his coin that summoned his weapons. The way Sherman and Clarisse seemed to tense at his arrival, among other. Not to exclude the fact that they were all in armor and held their hands under the table. His roaming eyes finally stopped on Percy, but continued to wander to the other people in the room ever so slightly as they drifted around the room.
"You wanted to see me, brother?" His voice was his usual low baritone, but it lacked any of his trademarked boisterous flare to it and remained completely level.
"Yes, I did." Percy replied, trying his best to hide the tension and anxiety in his voice. "We were in a meeting when I thought of something I needed to ask you, so sorry about the audience." He smiled through his lie, trying to come up with some reason why the entire Council was assembled around him.
"Now," Percy started with a plastered on smile. "We were talking and-"
Without preamble Leonidas cut him off, his voice even lower, slower and more menacing than before. "Before we get started…Tell me…"He looked at every member in the room in the eye as he rolled his massive shoulders and popped his neck, causing some of them to sweat even more or tense up. "How did you figure it out?" His hawk-like eyes scanned to Rachel Elizabeth Dare and focused on her. "I assume that the Oracle warned you? I always did find the ability to see into the future troublesome to counter."
Percy's breath hitched. So he wasn't even hiding it anymore? He wasn't going to claim that he didn't know what they were talking about? And how did he figure out that they knew? Percy cleared his throat. "Ehem. So, you know that we figured you out then? Then let's get right to it then-"
"Figured me out?" He interrupted Percy with a slight smile. "Tell me, what did you manage to figure out?"
Jason stiffened in his seat. So far this hadn't gone as planned, he only wished that Percy knew what he was doing.
After a few seconds Percy stood up, Leonidas didn't even react. His face remained emotionless. "There is a Prophecy," Percy started. "About a 'Mortal of Might' that is going to destroy Olympus… And you are the mortal in the Prophecy."
Leonidas actually looked slightly confused by this, his brow raising ever so slightly. "Prophecy? Mortal of Might?" He asked slowly.
"Yes, and you were sent by Zeus and Ares in order to kill me-"
Leonidas' sudden low laughter, like a rumbling sky, interrupted the son of Poseidon. After a few seconds he managed to stop himself, slowly shaking his head as he looked to Percy. "You believe that I was sent by Zeus and Ares?" He chuckled again, ending in a sigh. "My brother, you truly must not know anything about me if you believe that I would align myself with the likes of them." His eyes narrowed and and his voice dropped. "I aim to remove such beings from this world."
The entire Council hesitated to reply after hearing his words. Not knowing what to say. But Jason gave it his best shot. "What do you mean, 'remove such beings from the world'? Are you trying to kill my father?"
Leonidas' face twisted into a smile as he faced Jason. "Ah, son of Jupiter. I always found it udd that you were allowed in this Council, but I am glad you asked." He was silent for half a minute as he stared at the entire Council, reading their expressions and seemingly listening to something only he could hear.
"I have been granted a destiny by the Fates themselves." He told them simply, crossing his arms behind his back in a complete showing of a lack of fear from the group in front of him, despite their combined power and skills. "This world, is broken, tattered, in need of fixing. For too long the imbecilic gods on high have driven this world to the ground. War, famine, hunger, violence, rape, greed, lust, wrath, pride, sloth, envy and gluttony. Each of these traits- each of these sins, are all caused by the gods. Tell me… have you honestly never wondered how, in this world with countless agricultural gods and goddess, how there are so many starving people?"
Percy's eyes widened slightly, as did most of the eyes in the room. No one said anything, so Leonidas continued. "Going to bed hungry, scrounging around for scraps like dogs… forced to scavenge from trash heaps, rely on the generosity of strangers, feast upon the carcasses of animals like vultures… Tell me, does it sound to you like the gods care? Nine million people die every year from starvation… Nine. Million. People." He let out a breath through his nose as he slightly shook his head. "This world, is on the brink of collapse. Yet the gods, the chosen protectors of man and this world, sit up on their mountain, laid on pillows of silk, feasting on enough food in a week to feed a small country."
"And tell me, how in a world as supposedly advanced as this with literal divine protectors that call murder taboo and against the will of Chaos, are we allowed and encouraged to butcher each other like animals? Ever since the creation of this world and the Primordials, the world has been out of balance. The gods," He paused slightly to study everyone around him. "Have no doubt caused pain to everyone in this room. Be it lack of affection," his eyes drifted to Thalia, causing the daughter of Zeus to stiffen and narrow her eyes. "Neglect," he looked to Annabeth briefly. "Empathy," his eyes moved to Nico. "Or a complete inability to care for you on the most basic of level," finally his eyes stopped on Clarisse and Sherman.
Leonidas ignored the looks of shock or anger sent his way and continued. "My mother… like many others in this room, did not love me. Instead, she groomed me to be the best warrior I could be. To truly be the undisputed strongest demigod to ever live." His piercing reddish-amber gaze lingered on Percy. "I was born with a purpose, a goal to achieve and a Fate to reach. At first I had planned on only killing my father, Ares and Aphrodite, but now… I understand the Fates led me on this path to do much more… I must destroy Olympus and all the gods on it and usher in a new era of love, peace and serenity never before seen in the entirety of the cosmos."
"You're insane…" Jason muttered wide eyed at Leonidas.
The giant man responded, his words calm and soft spoken, like he truly believed with every fiber of his being that what he was saying was true. "The deaths of a few relics that have outlived their usefulness is a small price to pay for salvation. But I am not a murderer, I do not kill without cause, so I shall destroy the symbols of their strength and power, killing them without ever dropping a single drop of blood. I call that… mercy."
"You're a madman." Clarisse spoke up. "And what is your plan after that? To rule over the world as the new king of the gods?"
Leonidas only slowly shook his head. "Is it mad to fight for a better world? A world without war, hunger, poverty, rape, hatred… without evil? Would you call a mother mad for wishing to give her daughter a better world? Or a father to want to provide a better chance for his children and his children's children at living a better life?" His eyes fell on Clarisse, his voice soft and calm. "No, I would not call them mad, but congratulate them on their will to do what is right and what they must."
"No, I am not a hero, or savior, nor prophesied messiah…" He began to slowly pace in a small circle, all the while his eyes studied the other demigods in the room. "I crave no reconigsation, no celebration, no thanks for my acts. I had originally wished to achieve this in secrecy, without alerting the world of my plans. I fight for the betterment of the world… I am but a man challenging gods to ensure the safety of this world. I have no dreams, nor desires to become a god… all I am is a man with the will to act on his Fate. Do achieve his destiny." A hint of a smile washed over his face as he looked up to the ceiling just a few inches above his head. "Then… I shall rest. I will rise into the sky and live among the stars forever with all that I hold dear in this world. And then… we shall be truly at peace."
"But peace gained by killing hundreds of gods." Katie bravely said from her seat. "You can't justify murder."
"If I destroy Mount Olympus and their thrones, then all of the gods on Olympus would simply Fade into the Void and cease to exist. That, daughter of Demeter, is not murder, but mercy."
"If you destroy Olympus and kill all of the gods then the world and humanity would unravel." Annabeth spoke up from next to her boyfriend. She looked at Leonidas with narrowed eyes. "You will kill us all."
Leonidas only tilted his head slightly, as if thinking. "Look around you, daughter of Athena, do you see the Primordials? Helios? Pan? No, all of those beings have safely Faded into the Void without any negative effects on the world. It is true, that the cosmos will be unbalanced for some time as it corrects itself, but in time, as it always has, the world will stabilize. And then in time, the world go go on as if the gods were nothing more than myth."
Now Leonidas moved his eyes from Annabeth and to Percy right next to her. "You have to understand my reasoning, brother. You have been hurt and wronged by the gods more than any other person in this room." He released his hands from behind his back and slowly held his hand out to Percy as he sat across from him at the table. "Out of any mortal in the world, you understand my pain. So I shall ask you this once; join me on my quest to save the world."
The room was silent as they waited for Percy's response a few seconds later. "Of course not." Percy's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You're crazy to think that I would help you kill the gods."
Leonidas looked unbothered by this, though he did let out a long sigh. "It was a longshot, but I had wished for you to join me." Suddenly his head drifted up to the ceiling where it remained looking for several seconds. Finally he nodded and spoke to it softly. "At once, my love." He dropped his gaze from the ceiling and looked back to Percy. "I am sorry, but my love is calling me." He started to turn to leave. "I must go to her-"
"STOP!" Percy ordered, rising from his chair and summoning Riptide. "Where do you think you're going? Have you forgotten what's going on?" From his other side, Clarisse rose in her full armor and brandished her electric spear.
"And what praytell, is going on?" His question was slightly arrogant and cocky.
"You're under arrest." Percy told him, noticing how everyone in the room was now standing and drawing their weapons. "We will hold you until the Promised Day is over and let the gods decide what-"
"Am I now?" Leonidas interrupted him, his face morphing into a mocking, smug smile. He glanced around the room with an unfazed and relaxed demeanor. "I'm sorry, but did you assume that you could actually arrest me and hold me against my will?" He let out a low chuckle like rumbling earth. "How quaint."
"Aargh!" Clarisse moved around the table and pointed her electric spear at Leonidas. "Enough of this! On your feet! Hand over your weapons!"
He grinned. "Molon Labe, come and take them."
Clarisse growled again but Piper, in fear that a fight would break out right at that moment and wishing to avoid it, stepped towards Leonidas, filling her voice with Charmspeak in order to calm him down. "Now now, let's calm down, Leonidas. So hand over your weapons-"
Leonidas summoned his xiphos, cleared the distance and had it pressing against Piper's throat in the blink of an eye. He let out a low growl like the rumbling sky. "I warned you, utter one more word to me, Enchantress... and I swear on the River Styx that I will remove your head from your shoulders." Thunder boomed from overhead, causing the eyes of everyone in the room to widen. "Use your devilish Charmspeaking silver tongue on me again, Aphrodite spawn, and I will kill you."
"Hey!" Jason leapt at Leonidas, pushing his girlfriend as he stared down the massive man, his roman sword pointed at him. "You hurt her and I will-"
"If you have an issue with how I converse with your Hetaera, son of Jupiter, then prithee, raise your blade against mine. I would readily accept your challenge. But challenge me with caution, son of Jupiter, for my might rivals that of the Gods themselves. And if you stand against me, I shall consider you my enemy."
Jason looked like he was about to open his mouth to say something, but Percy stepped forward and spoke. "Wait!" He called out, gaining the attention of the entire room. After a few seconds Leonidas moved his eyes to face Percy. "Let's not do anything stupid, okay? Leonidas, you said that you didn't want to kill anyone if you didn't have to, right? Well we feel the same. So surrender peacefully. We promise that we'll treat you fairly." Percy took another slow step forward, holding open his now empty hands. "But in order for that to happen, you have to work with us. You need to tell us who this Titaness is, what her plans are and who your father is."
Leonidas' brow rose slightly. "You wish to know who my father is?" He asked, his voice hinting at slight amusement. "I think it's fairly obvious myself."
"Enough of your games," Percy told him, his patience slipping. "Who is-"
"I am not one to put much stock in my heritage, believing that I don't need the name of him to gain respect, but only my own power. But if you truly wish to know who I am, then so be it!" Without warning the air around him started to vibrate and the floor shook below them as if a thousand war drums were beating at once. Percy doesn't know when it happened, but he found all of the hairs on his arms standing on edge.
"I am Leonidas Dione Reed, Prince of Olympus, warrior of Sparta and future slayer of the Olympians." His voice dropped slightly as he removed his hands from his pockets and thrust them into the air with a mighty roar that shook the very walls." I am the son of Heracles! The god of Strength, Bravery and the Divine Protector of mankind! The strongest god to ever live. You cannot stand against me! I was given a destiny by the Fates themselves, I must kill Ares and Aphrodite in order to save this world. So brother, I beg you, stand aside, I have no wish to kill you. Eos was right, you are a great man, a true hero, a great friend, but… it's as the Spartans said: "If they stand behind you, protect them. If they stand beside you, respect them. If they stand against you, defeat them.""
Suddenly without warning Leonidas charged and threw the nearest person, which in this case was Sherman, through the opposite wall with a sickening 'crunch'. The crowd of Council members watched in awe as Leonidas rose to his full height as his hoodie morphed into his Nemean Lion Skin cloak. As the room still watched him in awe, he smirked as he dropped to a boxing stance. "Well then," His voice was light and mocking. "Shall we?"
With a gust of wind he launched himself at Jason and sent a powerful right hook into his face, sending the son of Jupiter flying back over the table and crashing into Nico. Clarisse slammed the butt of her spear onto the floor, screaming, "Ares cabin! To me!"
Six bulky and heavily armed and armored Ares campers burst into the room through the door and surrounded Leonidas with their shields, their spears facing the giant man. Leonidas grabbed the spear of one of the Ares campers and pulled him back as he launched his other massive fist into his face, sending the Ares camper into and through the wooden wall behind him.
Another Ares camper charged at Leonidas in his anger, only to be countered when the large man caught his spear and used it to slam his opponent into the wooden ceiling before bringing him to the floor and kicking him into the air at the remaining Ares campers.
"Get him!" Malcolm was next to attack, his sword swinging at the behemoth with flawless form and skill, but failed to make contact once. Leonidas grabbed the blade in his bare hand and snapped it with ease, using it to stab the approaching son of Nemesis. Damien dropped to the floor a second later with the jagged blade in his throat. Dead.
"Aargh!" Mika used her immense bulk and strength to charge at Leonidas, catching him off guard and managing to get in two normally bone-shattering punches in before Leonidas caught her third punch and swung her arm behind her, snapping her shoulder in one move.
Leo stepped forwards, ignoring Percy's orders from before about waiting to join the fight. Everything had gone wrong, it was a fight for their lives now. So with this in mind, he raised his hand from his spot a few paces from behind Leonidas and released the hottest and most powerful flames he could at his back. The blue and white-tipped flames engulfed the large man, encompassing him.
"Rraaahhh!" Leonidas roared as turned in the spot and charged at Leo, still on fire. He raised his massive fist and threw it at the son of Hephaestus. But at the last second Percy caught the punch and would've been thrown back through the wall if he hadn't latched onto Leonidas' arm.
"That's enough, Leonidas!" Percy cried. "Surrender or I'll be forced to take you down!"
"I never surrender!" Leonidas yelled back, pulling his arm from Percy's grip and gearing back to punch him again when the son of Poseidon delivered a powerful uppercut to his square jaw.
But Leonidas didn't fly back like Percy hoped, he only glared at Percy as his fist sat there dug into his cheek. "Awe sh-" 'BAAAM!' Percy was thrown back by Leonidas' mighty fist and into the wall. With a quick second, crossed his massive arms and threw them down at the floor, a random gust of wind blowing out the fire that had been on him.
Nico was in front of Leonidas with his Stygian Iron blade within a second with the intention to use the godly metal to destroy Leonidas' soul but found it impossible to land a hit on the massive man. Nico attempted to drop under Leonidas' attack but received a solid kick to the chest for falling for the trick. "Ahhh!"
Clovis and Lou Ellen tried to get close to the massive man, but the limited, cramped space in the room, combined with the twenty odd people trying to fight one man made it almost impossible to get close. So Will, who was beside the two, drew an arrow and shot it at Leonidas' exposed face…
...Only to be caught in the hand of the large man and used to stab Chiara in the eye for getting too close. Chiara was then lifted from the armpit and groin and thrown overhead at Miranda, knocking them both out cold.
From her spot next to Rachel, protecting the defenseless Oracle, Thalia charged her arrows with lightning and sent them at Leonidas' exposed skin on his arms. Peppering him with electrified arrows but doing no more than giving away her position when the arrows harmlessly bounced off his hardened skin with the electricity just washing off of his arms.
A female Ares camper used the distraction to launch herself at Leonidas and jumping atop of his wide shoulders and using her thighs to try to choke him. "Ahhh!" She was thrown off a few seconds later, crashing through the large window and falling the two stories to the ground below.
Without preamble Leonidas launched himself at Pollux and Katie, sending the two campers flying with a few high speed martial arts moves. Stopping a quick second to catch his breath, Leonidas scanned the room around him, eyeing the still standing demigods. Percy and Jason were making their way to him. "If you let me go, I promise to let everyone live-"
"Fat chance, you bastard!" Percy roared as he and Jason launched themselves at the giant man, each grabbing one arm and using all of their might to keep his arms held out in each direction. "Now, Leo!"
Said son of Hephaestus threw one of the Celestial Bronze chains he made to Clarisse and an Ares camper who used the opportunity Jason and Percy gave them to latch the shackle around Leonidas' left wrist as the other two remaining Ares campers cuffed his right wrist. Once he was bound in the chains, each side pulled with all their might in the opposite direction, causing Leonidas' arms to be pulled in separate directions.
"Everyone! PULL!" Clarisse bellowed as the remaining campers bar three picked a side and pulled back on the chain, trying their best to overpower the world's strongest man.
"Grrraaahhh!" Leonidas roared as his arms were being pulled in opposite directions as they tried to force him to his knees. "You think…" He paused to suck a quick breath. "That chains can contain me? Have you forgotten who I am?! No chain can contain me!"
"Get another chain!" Percy ordered to Gardenia and Amethyst. The two girls bringing another large and heavy Celestial Bronze chain and shackles towards Leonidas, aiming to put the shackle around his neck but couldn't reach because of his superior height.
"We can't reach!" Gardenia cried anxiously, her voice filled with fear. "Get him lower!"
"You heard her!" Percy roared as he summoned his strength so much that his feet were digging into the wooden floor. "Bring him down!"
"Ahhh!" The small army of demigods cried in unison as they pulled with all their might in attempt to bring Leonidas to his knees. Leonidas struggled against the eighteen demigods pulling on his arms, nine on each side as they pulled with so much force that their veins were popping from their neck and their teeth were grinding from the effort.
"Keep going!" Lou Ellen yelled. "We're almost there!" With a final 'huff' from the eighteen demigods, Leonidas was forced to a knee, his massive body shaking the floor from the sudden weight. Lou and Amethyst reached up to put the remaining shackle and chain around his neck and were about to latch it when Lou Ellen yelled to the remaining camper in the room. "Do it now, Clovis!"
Said son of Hypnos darted in front of Leonidas with never before seen speed and raised a single hand in front of the large man's face. "SLEEP!" He cried as he snapped, using his powers to put Leonidas into a deep slumber.
The brobdingnagian of a man slumped to his knees instantly, his chin dropping to his chest and his arms slacking when the eighteen demigods holding the chains let them go and test their grip from the tremendous strain. "By the gods…" Laurel muttered as she dropped her part of the chain. "That was the hardest thing I've ever-"
"Clovis look-" Lou Ellen hadn't even had time to fully warn the son of Hypnos when Leonidas sudden sprung up fully awake, pulled his arms, tearing the chains out of the grips of the demigods, summoned his xiphos and ran the blade through Clovis' chest within a second.
"I was wondering where you were hiding, son of Hypnos." Leonidas mumbled as he pushed Clovis back. "I'll admit, you were the one I was worried about the most… But luckily for me I was able to borrow some Moonwalker Hyacinths from that daughter of Persephone."
"Gah… ah…" Clovis stumbled back, his hands drenched in crimson liquid, falling back onto the floor.
"Clovis!" Lou dropped beside him, pulling his head up against her chest as streaks ran down her face. "No!"
Now with his arms free, Leonidas threw his arms out, slamming the heavy Celestial Bronze Chains against the standing demigods and throwing them against the still standing walls. "Aaaah!" They yelled as they flew, hitting the walls.
Percy was one of the first one to struggle to his feet, his eyes narrowed dangerously at Leonidas. "I warned you, didn't I?" Leonidas told him, no sympathy in his voice. He pointed to the several unmoving bodies around him. "This is your fault, brother. You should have let me leave in peace like Eos told you to."
Percy opened his mouth to retort but Lou Ellen suddenly roared, an abyss black aura surrounding her like onyx flames. "You MURDERER!" She screamed, her hands forming into an array of signs as she cast her magic. "Incendio!" A shimmering wall of flames burst from her hands and engulfed the large man only to be blown back by a shivering gust of wind from his hands. "How…?" She blinked before remembering her anger and sending out another spell.
"Fog of Darkness!" She roared as pitch black mist burst from her mouth at shot at the man with shocking speed.
"You aren't the only one with special abilities, girl." Leonidas threw his bulky arms out in front of him. "Send me some of your power, my love!" Suddenly warm, blinding light shot from his skin and engulfed the darkness before quickly snuffing it out.
The daughter of Hecate stood up from her knee only to be encased in a thin sheet of ice from Leonidas' palm, trapping the girl. "Stay down," He ordered. "Or I'll be forced to kill you." Lou wisely decided to stay down. From behind them, Percy was rising to his feet, summoning his trident and began to store power for a massive attack. Leonidas' head moved slightly to Percy's direction behind him. "Oh, don't think I haven't thought about you, brother." Leonidas spun on the spot and jumped to the side, drawing a dagger from his belt as he did so and throwing it at the small of Percy back as soon as he was in position…
...Only to be stopped by the stomach of the daughter of Athena.
The room was silent for half a minute until Annabeth began to cough up so much blood so began to choke on the crimson liquid. "P-percy-" 'Thud'. Without preamble she fell face first to the wooden floor in front of Percy. The son of Poseidon watched in shock as the floor became flooded with her blood.
Percy was frozen as he watched Annabeth. Leonidas was as well, but for a different reason. All he could see was not Annabeth on the floor, but Mary, his first love before him. "...Mary…" Came his breathless mumble.
"Raaahhh!" Percy roared as he lifted his trident over his head, summoning up as much power as he could in that moment and stabbing the points of the weapon into Leonidas' Nemean Lion Skin covered back, sending the giant man through the wall out of the Big House and a few dozen feet until he hit a tree. "I'll kill you!" Percy cried as he lept from the hole in the second story wall and onto the ground, the earth shaking and rumbling. "Ahhh!" Percy charged the son of Heracles but found himself hit with his mighty warhammer and sent through the weapon shed and rolling on the ground.
As Percy struggled to his feet with the help of his trident, he heard a collection of cries from some younger campers off to the side. Gotta take him down before he kills them, he thought to himself as he turned around to find what the younger campers were screaming about. A giant, royal blue, eight thousand pound Celestial Bronze Ford Raptor was being lifted over the head of the massive man. Leonidas rose from his knees, struggling under the weight and against his injuries and he lifted it fully over his head.
"Oh no…" Percy yelled, trying to get to his feet to jump out of the way. "Don't you dare hit me with my-" 'CRASH' The earth shook as the mammoth vehicle was thrown overhead at the son of Poseidon with enough force to nearly knock him out, but Percy ultimately refused to succumb to the immense pain. From far off he heard the cries of more campers and the familiar cry of a dragon, but chose to run back to the Big House and to Annabeth instead of towards the screaming campers.
Percy tore into the Big House and flew up the stairs to find a horrid site. Several campers were unmoving on the ground, as most other were nursing severe to light injuries, but the one that made his breath catch was laid in the middle of the floor surrounded by Rachel, Thalia, Piper and Jason as Will checked on her. It was Annabeth.
Percy found himself at her side, trying to pick her up only to be pushed back by Will and Jason. Later he assumed that they were saying something about not moving her in her condition, but he didn't hear any of it as he forcefully pushed the two guys back, scooped her up in his arms and jumped for the second time out of the hole in the wall and towards Thalia's Tree. All the while promising her that she would be alright despite not receiving a response from her.
. . .
When Percy finally made it to Thalia's Tree he found a large group of fifteen or so campers circled around it. Some of them were crying, but he didn't register it as he forced himself through the crowd. Nothing mattered but Annabeth. "Let me through!" He bellowed. "Get the Golden Fleece! Annabeth needs it!" After not receiving said Golden Fleece after two seconds he yelled again. "I said get me the Golden-"
"We can't." Esteban cut him off long enough for him to gain some sense of his surroundings. Only now did he notice the unmoving form of a Bronze colored scales. "Leonidas killed Peleus… and stole the Golden Fleece." He pointed up to the sky. "Then he jumped into the air and flew off."
(Author's Note)
So… I'm just gonna hide over here, is that okay? Hope no one got too pissed by this chapter. Normally I'd say something here but it's late and I gotta get up at 4 for work. So see you all next time.
Fun Fact: Leonidas' favorite food is bison steak. Not important at all, but still qualifies as a fun fact.
Question of the day: 'What do you think is gonna happen with Annabeth? Is she okay? Keep in mind what we've noticed about her lately.'
