Chapter 14: The Destroyer

3RD PERSON POV

The next day was infuriating for Theo. Still no sign of Perses or Kampe and the forces. No word from Lupa. Luckily, this was almost met by no other ambushes on the Hunt on their way to Camp Jupiter. Theo spent his day as he did previous to the Hunt: hunting, training, and surveying. By this point, he had a fairly detailed plan depending on where the force camped.

Another lonely campfire and the morning came. Artemis and the Hunt notified him that he was to meet them at Caldecott Tunnel to rendezvous before entering the camp and so he did.

"Anything?" Artemis asked when they met. "Nothing. It's putting me on edge," Theo answered honestly. "But let's not worry for now. I have a praetor or two to reconnect with," he said with a slight smile. They made their way to the camp and New Rome, but were stopped by Terminus per tradition. However, with Diana (she switched to her Roman aspect to avoid conflict) they needed not to relinquish their weapons.

"Lady Diana," Frank greeted her as they approached the Senate building. "Praetor Zhang," she greeted back cordially. "It is a pleasure to have you and the Hunt in New Rome again, but I don't imagine it is under leisurely circumstances," Frank said. "I'm afraid not. Please call for the Senate. We have much to discuss," Diana addressed quickly.

Once in the Senate, side conversations were about as Diana and the Hunt made themselves comfortable, but the topic of the conversations weren't them. They were of the blonde haired man traveling with them. The Romans had learned of the Guardian, but seeing him in person was something else.

"Let the Senate commence," Frank announced in the presence of Reyna and Hazel as well as the other Romans. "We have come to aid with an attack we believe to be coming. Tartarus has sent Kampe and the Titan of Destruction, Perses to lead a force against the camp," Diana spoke and the murmuring broke out. "Lady Diana, how do you know of this attack?" Reyna asked. "Our Guardian has perceived it in a dream nearly a week ago and has been scouting the area around your camp and New Rome for any threats for the last three days," Diana answered coolly.

"How has he been scouting? Our sentries would have been alerted of his presence," Reyna spoke, her interest now locked solely on the Guardian. "A lot has changed in my absence Praetor Reyna. I'm no longer the same Roman I was before," Theo stated void of emotion. "You were Roman?" Frank asked, his interest now peaked too.

"That hurts, nephew. I would have thought you'd remember me," Theo said as he rolled up his sleeve to reveal the SPQR tattoo with the mark of Neptune and four strikes of service. Reyna, Frank, and Hazel gasped and the murmuring broke out again. "P-Percy?" Hazel managed to get out. Theo then flashed his eyes to their normal sea-green, revealing his identity. "Long time no see, guys," Theo said with a shit-eating grin.

"Now, I have had a vision of Tartarus and Kampe and Perses are likely to be dispatched here. We need to boost defenses and patrols. I have surveyed the area and have marked the areas they are likely to house what I presume to be a large force to decimate camp. I will continue my scouting to determine the location," Theo called out earning a nod from the Romans present.

The Senate meeting ended with the finalizing of the plans and everyone left, except Frank, Hazel, Reyna, Diana, and Thalia. Before they could say anything, Theo changed his appearance back to 'Percy' and was abruptly tackled into a hug by Hazel. "It's so good to see you, Perce. Where have you been?" she said and Percy hugged her back. He gave Frank a big man hug and a gentle one to Reyna as well.

"Annabeth was worried sick about you!" Hazel said and Percy tensed at the mention of her name. Closure was nice, sure. But those wounds to his heart hadn't vanished completely. Percy sighed a dove into his story for the nth time and earned another hug from Hazel and a clap on the back from Frank. "You are always welcome here, but I understand needing a break," Reyna said finally and Percy gratefully nodded.

The Hunt settled into the residence for the time being and Theo was about to set out for more scouting, but was stopped by Diana and Thalia. "Take the night off, Theseus. Rest," Diana said to him. It was weird to hear her call him by the full name, but Diana was a different aspect and Thalia was present. Theo begrudgingly nodded and Thalia found him on the roof of the barracks later that evening.

THALIA POV

"Can't sleep?" I asked as I approached Theo. He turned to face me and gave a soft smile, "Not really. Call me paranoid." I laughed at his words and said, "Easy now. Any more paranoid and I'd have to call you Zeusy Jr." He grimaced at the nickname and I laughed further.

"You okay? I saw you and Annie stick behind after the meeting at Camp Half-Blood," I asked gently, unsure of how he would react. He was quiet for a while, but finally answered. "Yeah, I'm alright. She wanted to get back together and try to make it work."

"That's great, Perce! I knew if you just talked it out you two would-" I began, but he cut me off. "We're not getting back together Thals," he said softly, but with a firmness as if he was still trying to convince himself. I was shocked. I thought that was all he wanted, more than anything. "Why not?" I asked softly. He let out a deep sigh. 'He seems to be doing that more lately.'

"I'm still too hurt about it. The pain lingers no matter what. Being with the Hunt helps, but that's just another reason we can't. Guardian and my mission keep me far too busy and with war on the horizon..." he trailed off. 'When did old Kelp-Head here get so responsible and big picture?' I mused.

"Are you happy with that?" I asked after a comfortable silence. He was quiet for a long time. "Yes and no. I wanted all those things before... but now... I just doesn't feel... right," he got out eventually. I fixed my gaze onto the layout of the camp and Field of Mars before us. "Good," I said finally and he whipped around to turn and face me. "That means you know what you want and what you can afford to sacrifice for others, but more importantly: it means you're finally putting yourself first for once."

He matched my gaze and I felt him nod. After another comfortable silence, I stood up. "I'm going to bed. Make sure you get some rest Kelp-Head," I said and he chuckled and nodded. "Goodnight, Thals."

3RD PERSON POV

The next morning, Diana left abruptly to gather the hunters that had finished recovering at Apollo's temple. The remainder of the Hunt went to get some training in while they could and Theo decided to have another sparring session with the little ones. "You girls are getting better everyday!" Theo said cheerfully as they finished training to eat. "We still can't beat you though!" Kiani argued and the other girls nodded in between bites. "I have YEARS of experience on you girls. You're doing well. You could probably beat some of the older hunters!" Theo said and picked up their spirits.

Diana returned close to midday and reintegrated the gathered hunters back into the routine that had been usually established at the camp. The day had finished and still no sign of the forces and Theo was on edge. 'Had it all been a ploy,' was the last thought on his mind as he went to bed.

Unfortunately, the next day would not be as calm. They had arrived.

THEO POV

I was about to set out to scout again for the day. We determined that while Kampe would prefer a night assault, Perses would likely rely too heavily on his domains and his pride would call for him to attack midday. Unfortunately, I was right. The alarm blared and I rushed to a higher vantage point to see the force and my skin crawled.

Across the Field of Mars, 500 monsters of all kinds gathered into ranks and Kampe and Perses stood at the helm of it all. I cursed under my breath when I saw that fissure of ground that ran like an ugly scar about 50 meters behind the army. "They came straight from the ground!" I yelled to Diana who was on a vantage point similar to mine. She managed a stiff nod as the Romans and the Hunt rushed into battle formation. 'This is going to get ugly,' I thought as the monsters all charged forward, leaving the two leaders to hang back.

I fire flashed 20 feet above the middle of the charging forces, set myself ablaze and dropped to the ground like a meteor. The ensuing earthquake and inferno ravaged any forces in the immediate vicinity and threw others off balance as it traveled outward. Perses was less than impressed as a simple flick of his wrist sent another wave of destruction to counter my own.

I cursed and drew my swords and brough judgement upon all those unfortunate enough to cross my path. Greek fire and ice sprouted anywhere near me as I cut down monster after monster, but the hoard came never ending wave after never ending wave.

3RD PERSON POV

The Romans were faring well in their strict ranks and formations and the Hunt cut anything down that dared to slip between or around them. Diana was just as beautiful and dangerous as her Greek counterpart, silver knives blurring with the gold of monsters slain. It looked like a whirlwind of glitter in the afternoon sun.

The battle raged on, Romans fell as did monsters, but the two forces were still locked in a stalemate. Then Kampe made her move. She cut down several Roman demigods until she came across a deadly pair from the Hunt.

THALIA POV

The battle was a shit show. Curses from demigod and monster alike reverberated throughout the field in between the clang of metal. My trusty spear and Aegis on my person cut down anything. Hellhounds, dracnae, empousai, cyclops; it didn't matter. I did not discriminate. Luckily, Phoebe was at my side and we worked in tandem as we have an uncountable number of times, cutting down anything that dared to get in our way. I could feel bursts of extreme heat and unimaginable cold and a smile crept its way to my face. 'Theo must be having a ball,' I mused and my smile must've been the sadistic grin of a mental patient. Monsters faltered ever so slightly before me allowing me and Phoebe to capitalize on their mistakes.

Then Kampe showed up. Phoebe and I looked at each other and nodded. We danced a dangerous tango, though with three of us I'm not sure how you would classify it. I would block her scimitars with Aegis and Phoebe would rush in and strike. We weren't making much headway, only able to leave small knicks and cuts on her scaly reptilian body, but HAD to dodge any and all strikes with her poison blades.

I was distracted while trying to assess the position and well-being of the Hunt long enough for Kampe to bring one blade down. I had blocked it with Aegis, but her tail whipped around to bat me tens of meters away. I tried desperately to blink the stars out of my eyes with no such luck. I faintly heard Phoebe scream my name, but I was in too much pain to focus on that clearly. All I saw was Kampe approaching me with a smug look on her face.

PHOEBE POV [weird right?]

I saw Thalia get batted and screamed. Then my body went on autopilot. I charged Kampe and parried a blow meant for Thalia, but there was more power behind it than I had anticipated so I leapt back. 'I gotta buy Thalia some time,' I thought as I battled the serpent bitch. I could hear Thalia groan behind me faintly as she got to her feet, but the onslaught coming toward me proved too much.

I went to parry another strike and counter, but I bit for her feint. She threw a massive punch to my gut and I nearly expunged the contents of my breakfast, but before I could do that I narrowly avoided another strike. Narrowly wasn't good enough as the blade left a gash of about four inches on my arm. Then my body was on fire. Kampe's poison had made its way into my bloodstream and things weren't looking good. The buzzing in my ears was enough to drown out Thalia's screams, but I grit my teeth and pushed forward.

I managed to push back Kampe for a split second and that gave Thalia the time to enter the fray again and blow her back with a bolt of electricity. I heard her hiss, but my vision was spotty at best. Thalia rushed the monster and I couldn't go any further. 'This may be it for me. Thalia, I'm sorry. Dad, if you're listening, guide this arrow true and I hope I served you and Artemis well. Zoe, I'll see you soon,' I thought and almost chuckled bitterly at my own thoughts.

I gritted my teeth and drew my bow, notched an arrow, and let it fly. Then I collapsed on the ground, my breaths wheezing and my ears buzzing with the faint sounds of battle.

THALIA POV

I didn't have time to dote over Phoebe. 'She's fine. She's been in the Hunt longer than me. She's a daughter of Ares. She. Is. Fine,' I thought and let my rage fuel my attacks on Kampe. We were trading blows back and forth, leaving various cuts on her body at which she hissed. I avoided all of her blade strikes, but just barely and things were not looking good. I was tiring. I knew it. Kampe knew it.

Then just as I went to block another blow, a flash of silver went by my vision and an arrow had found its mark in Kampe's shoulder. My opening. I stepped in her guard and basked Aegis into

her, throwing her balance backward and thrust my spear into her throat. "Go back to hell, bitch," I managed to get out through my clenched jaw.

I rushed back to Phoebe and she was sheet white. "No no no no Phoebe! SOMEONE GET A MEDIC!" I yelled, but my voice was drowned out by the battle ensuing around me. "T-Thalia," Phoebe started but it was so faint that I was terrified. "Phoebe, it's gonna be fine. You're going to be fine. I'll get Percy!" I yelled, but in hindsight, I was trying to convince myself. She smiled softly. "I-It's okay. I-It's been... the b-best... centur-ries of m-my life."

"No no no Phoebe. You can't leave me. Who's going to lead the Hunt with me?" my voice cracked like a six-year-old. I was afraid. "T-Tell Artemis... it's been... an an honor," she said but her voice was hardly a whisper. I cried like a sniveling brat, but I didn't care. "T-Tell the male... tell P-Percy... he w-wasn't so bad," she said and I cried even harder. Phoebe. The biggest man-hater behind Artemis and Zoe, just admitted that Percy wasn't that bad. That was like getting Hades to wear pink.

"Phoebe," I began but she placed a hand on mine to stop me. "I g-get to see Z-Zoe," she whispered and with a smile on her face, drew her last breath. I screamed. I screamed and everything in a 20 meter radius was obliterated by the lightning that ensued. Then I remembered who the fuck I was. I wiped my eyes and grabbed my spear and Aegis. "Tell Zoe I say 'Hi'," I said and turned my back on her. My vision: red.

DIANA POV

The fight was brutal. I was cutting down anything I came across and had finally fought my way to Perses. "Perses," I spat. "Well, if it isn't the little hunter. I knew that sniveling idiot, Orion would fail," he said with a smug face and amusement in his tone. With no more need for words, I charged.

Perses was like Atlas, in that he was an absolute brick wall. Hard and unrelenting. I had managed to leave various small cuts on his body, but he looked as annoyed as one would be trying to swat a gnat. I was a gnat. And that pissed me off to no end. I doubled my efforts and still only managed to move him a few meters. His battle ax was unbelievably heavy, but he wielded it like it was made of paper mache.

Every blow I parried sent earthquake tremors through my bones. I was surprised that they weren't broken just from the impact. That surprise however, would be short lived. I dodged another swing and a searing pain entered my mind. Hunters were dead. Several of them, but the most notable I felt, was Phoebe. Phoebe who had been with me for centuries. Right along there with Zoe. Had finally fallen in battle.

I gritted my teeth and let my sorrow and anger fuel me and attacked with increased fervor against the Titan. In my anger I managed to slip a swing of his ax and slashed a large gash into his upper arm. I then used his leg as a springboard and left a nasty cut on his chin, dragging from the corner of his mouth down to his collarbone. I delivered a swift kick to his chin and retreated.

I heard him roar in anger and pain and that was the last I recalled. He swung his ax again, with increased force and I didn't have time to dodge. I parried, but the vibrations sent through the strike made me drop my knives and likely dislocated my left shoulder. I didn't have time to check; however, as a Herculean fist collided with my ribcage. The punch was packed with his domain of destruction and the sickening crunch of my ribs would have made me vomit, had I not had all the air purged from my lungs and was not unconscious after colliding through several trees.

THEO/PERCY POV [both POV bc he will switch appearance mid fight]

I heard a scream from Thalia and knew something was wrong. I felt it as Guardian. 'No... Phoebe,' I thought as I cut down another hellhound. I was broken out of my thoughts immediately as the mind splitting headache of Artemis, err, Diana being hurt. I ran to her immediately.

She was unconscious a few meters from a bored looking Perses and my rage consumed me. I charged the titan and drove him back from her body until we were 20 meters in front of her limp form.

"Ah, the great Perseus Jackson. I've always wanted to meet the brat named after me," he said in a mocking tone. I changed my appearance back to normal and did something very stupid. More stupid than I usually do. "I wasn't named after you, you piece of shit," I spat at him and he laughed. His laugh sounded like an avalanche. "My boy, you do know that your name means 'The Destroyer' and I am the Titan of Destruction," he said as we paced around one another.

"I'm well aware of my name and your domains. I just don't think you're worthy of the title is all," I smirked at him. He tensed. "You DARE?!" he roared at me and I chuckled. "How about a deal then Perses?" I said, trying to keep a cool and even tone. "Speak boy," he said. 'Well, I've got his attention now,' I thought and gulped.

"A duel. You and me. If I win, you tell me what I want to know," I said and he laughed again. "And pray tell, what do I get if I win?" he asked, still amused. "You get the glory that comes with killing Perseus Jackson, The Bane of All and full claim of the title of 'The Destroyer'," I told him and he got angered again. "I already own that title boy, you're simply borrowing it," he said and I smirked, for I knew I had him.

"Wow. I didn't know Perses actually meant 'Pussy'," I stated bluntly and he roared in outrage. "Fine you little brat. I abide by your terms and I'll take great pleasure in killing you." he said and shouldered his ax. I couldn't help my sarcastic nature, "Funny. Your father said that same thing before I made him beg for his life," I said and put my swords in the ready position. This was going to be the fight of my life.

3RD PERSON POV

The Titan and the demigod stood off for a minute. Ax versus dual swords. Destroyer versus Destroyer. On an unspoken cue, Percy charged. He was a flurry of fierce strikes with Riptide and Frostbite. Perses met his strikes with blocks and swings of his own and the two entered the dance of combat. Percy didn't have the luxury to worry about anyone else. For if he fell here, it was all over.

The clang of metal rang throughout the Field of Mars, drowning out any other sounds. Perses' domain of destruction was incredible. Each blow Percy parried or blocked made his bones quake and beg for the sweet release of fracturing, but he held on. He had to. For New Rome. For the Hunt. For Artemis/Diana. So he pressed on.

He relied on his speed over Perses' power. He managed to dance around the titan's strikes and leave a few cuts of his own, but the titan wasn't slowing from the blood loss fast enough. At the rate he was going, Percy would fall and New Rome would fall. Percy managed to land a few icicles and throwing knives and then his plan came to him.

He was slowing down, but his determination shined through strong. He made the wise decision to switch to his katana and a knife to further increase his speed. He rushed in and slashed anywhere he could before retreating to avoid a devastating blow from the ax. Perses caught him a few times, riddling his body with bruises just from parrying and scrapes from rocks and twigs from when he was tossed.

It became a battle of attrition. Would he fall before his plan could be carried out? So he repeated, landing ice shards in the titan wherever he could and littering him with cuts before retreating or getting pushed back. Time was in a limbo stage of sorts. It could've been hours of fighting or it could've been five minutes. Percy couldn't tell, nor could he afford to think about it.

"This game of cat and mouse is getting old, demigod. Just yield," Perses grumbled. 'Good, he hasn't caught on yet,' Percy thought before he taunted. "Here kitty kitty," and Perses face turned red with rage. His strikes got sloppy and allowed Percy to land another three shards of ice into the titans body. Perses looked like an acupuncture patient gone wrong with nearly 20 ice shards in each limb.

Percy charged again, but slipped and Perses countered. Percy ducked and twisted at the last second to avoid the swing from the ax, but caught another fist to his right side and gasped for breath. Perses stalked toward him as he fought to grab his breath. "I would say 'well fought' but this outcome was inevitable little demigod," the titan said in preparation to bring his ax down in the final blow. Luckily he didn't notice the ice shards that littered his limbs had melted into his wounds almost entirely. Percy laughed.

PERCY POV

"You find death funny? Only a mere boy could find such a thing funny," Perses said to me, his ax ready and waiting. "It is not my death I find funny, Pussy. It is yours," I said and in rage, Perses swung his ax downward, but it never hit me. I raised my right hand and stopped his movements. I slowly climbed to my feet, albeit in a lot of pain.

"W-What did you do?!" he yelled in frustration and surprise. "Those ice shards. Didn't you notice they were slowly getting smaller?" I said and his eyes widened. "With the water already present in your body and the added water from them, I can control you," I said before coughing up blood. "I can't hold it long, but long enough," I said and without another word I separated his ax hand from his body.

Perses screamed in pain and I froze the wound, letting frostbite settle in. I proceeded to the same with his left leg and cauterized that wound, letting the Greek fire continue to burn his flesh. The screams of the Titan of Destruction and the smell of sizzling flesh permeated throughout the Field of Mars. The monsters were on the retreat and the wounded were being tended to. Some curious demigods crept forward to see my work.

"Yield Perses. Yield and this will end," I said in my emotionless voice. Perses coughed up more golden ichor. "Piss off demigod," he spat. I sighed and delivered three swift jabs to his torso followed by a spinning back kick to his chin. All of which were charged with my Earthshaker abilities and I felt ribs snap and his jaw crack. I sauntered over to his limp form.

"Yield, answer my questions, and I'll end your suffering," I said again and he spat more ichor, but nodded. "Where are Tartarus' next attacks planned and how long do we have?" I asked and he stayed silent. In one swift motion, I separated his left ear from his head. He screamed in pain and I asked again. "I don't know Jackson. I am a being of Destruction. I go where I'm told when I'm told and do simply that. Destroy," he said through labored breaths and I sigh.

'I'm not going to get anything out of him,' I thought and decided to end it. "One last question: What's my name?" I asked with a smirk. He stayed silent again and I slashed across his cheeks and bridge of his nose. "What's my name?" I asked again. "Perseus Jackson... The Destroyer," he said begrudgingly. And I leaned down into his face. "Good. Make sure news of my title travels to every last cave in that fucking wasteland you call home," I finished and in a swift motion as I walked toward Diana's still limp body, I separated his head from his shoulders. Not bothering to look down or back at him.

I got to Diana and tried to heal what I could with Hestia's blessing, but it was too much for me especially after the battle. I cradled her head in my lap and tilted my head up to the sky, "APOLLO!"

He showed up immediately after. "Take her and the hunters to your temple for healing and shrouds, I'll remain here to help and I'll be there soon," I told him and he nodded stiffly.

I noticed Perses' ax as a spoil of war and limped my way over to it after Apollo and the Hunt departed. I bent down and gripped the handle. As I gripped the handle, it shrank to a more manageable size, though still a Herculean double bladed ax. 'The weapon of The Destroyer,' I heard it whisper in my head. I stood there and thought for a minute before whispering, "Diagrapsei" and the ax hummed in submission before collapsing into a nightstick to be sheathed on my back.

3RD PERSON POV

Percy managed to help the Romans with their casualties and defences after the battle and flashed to Apollo's temple afterward. The hunters that weren't bed ridden remained in Diana's temple with the shrouds of their fallen sisters. Luckily, Estelle and the little ones only had minor injuries and were going to be fine.

Percy took a seat at Diana's bedside and watched Apollo work dutifully around the infirmary. After everything was settled, he handed Percy some ambrosia and nectar and bandaged any cuts he had. Percy nodded in thanks and began to drift into unconsciousness while gazing upon Diana's form.

"Thank you, Cousin," Apollo said and earned a small smile and nod from Percy before Percy turned his attention back to his mistress. 'She looks so relaxed for once,' Percy mused and fell asleep smiling. Apollo saw this before he left and smiled to himself before turning the lights off and exiting the infirmary.

AN: There's chapter 14! What do you think? Things are going to slow down a bit plot wise and focus more on Pertemis friendship and its potential into something more. Phoebe death?! Wild right? Diagrapsei means "Erase". Until next chapter!