A/N: Yeah. Sorry about the delay. I had a rough week. I was away for a while to attend my uncle's wedding. When I got back, I got sick and food poisoning. So…. Yeah. Don't worry. I'm not dead. I'm getting better. Slightly. And I'm sorry for not updating. :D
RED2017: I don't want to make it like mega super long because I tend to get too carried away with it. So, we'll see.
Alex Focker: I know :D
Quihi: Trust me when I say I suck at it. I'm not good with description, so that may have been as to this. Whenever I wrote action scenes, I had to read it like fifteen times to make sure their movements made sense. Even then, sometimes it doesn't. But hey, glad you enjoyed it!
Unicorn horn powder: Thanks!
Theunwillingtraveler: Meh. One day ;)
Ilovedragons2014: Take a wild guess ;D
With that being said, after my brief toilet break, let's surge onwards!
Chapter 14
Just so we don't get confused, let's do a head count.
For Tanks, they have Thalia and Frank – the two Vanguard class.
For Supports, They have Annabeth, Piper, and Hazel.
For Magic damages, they have Leo and Nico.
Percy, Artemis, Jason, Luke, and Reyna are their damage dealers.
And they're facing against one of the strongest World Bosses in the game.
Such valiant efforts, the Hacker's voice echoed through the Colosseum. If you fail, maybe I will spare everyone in this place.
Frank and Thalia reached Kampe first, as Tanks should. Annabeth was their captain, something that no one argued against. They knew her skills and abilities as a captain. They trusted her.
"Leo, Nico," Annabeth said through the voice chat. "Keep up a sustained amount of DPS towards Kampe." She said as she cast a spell that inflicts Slow on Kampe. As the name suggest, the status effects makes the target's movement slow.
"I don't have that much Mana to work with," Leo grunted as he unleashed a fireball.
"Well if you hadn't used spells that consume a buttload of Mana, you wouldn't have that problem," Hazel argued with him as she casts a buff on Thalia and Frank that reduces any damage dealt towards them.
Hazel's class is a Priest. Out of all the supporting class, Priests can heal the most amount in the shortest time. They have Burst Healing, which meant they can restore your health by a certain amount in an instant compared to Druid and Enchanter who has regeneration healing. They also have no real impact offensively as their job is to tighten up a team's defences with buffs and heals.
"Hey, they do the most damage," Leo grinned. "Watch this." Leo lit his hand on fire and unleashed a torrent of flames straight at Kampe. Although the heat from his spell could've melted most metal like butter, Kampe stood there unfazed as her Health Bar barely decreased.
"I'll handle the Mana problem." Annabeth said calmly. "Artemis, keep firing at Kampe. Don't stop for a second."
"What do you think I'm doing?" Artemis grumbled as she fired arrow after arrow.
Kampe hissed at Frank, who still has Kampe's aggro. She was going at Frank with a flurry of attacks with her scimitars, each one bounced harmlessly against Frank's shield. But with each strike, Percy see Frank's health bar getting chewed off bit by bit.
Percy, Jason, Luke and Reyna went to work. Percy switched to a giant warhammer before jumping and smashing it with such ferocity onto Kampe's scorpion tail that Thor himself would've been proud. Kampe screeched in anger as her tail whipped at Percy.
Percy jumped while the rest of the damage dealers ducked. Jason started to chop viper heads off of Kampe's legs one at a time while Reyna and Luke were busy poking and stabbing at Kampe's sides.
"Switch Tanks!" Annabeth ordered. Frank stepped back as Thalia moved in front of Kampe, poking her repeatedly with her spear. "Piper, heal Frank will you? And Hazel, focus your buffs on Thalia."
They did as they were told. Nico and Leo were doing their job by dealing damage from far away, along with Artemis. Kampe looked like she was being overwhelmed.
Percy grinned as he swung his hammer at Kampe's backside, making her back arch in pain. In retort, the wolf on Kampe's waist lashed out at him, almost biting his face in half.
Luckily, Reyna pulled him away just in time. "Stay focused," She said simply before disappearing, Assassin-style. When she reappeared, her dagger was embedded on one of Kampe's wing before she disappeared again.
Percy looked at Kampe's Health Bar. All kinds of status effects were lined up above her health bar. Now that they were dealing some bits of damage, her health bar was going down at a steady rate.
"Root's gonna be up in fifteen seconds." Annabeth said. "Everybody keep your distance and lower the damage. Hazel, focus your heals on Thalia."
"Noted," Hazel said as she cast healing spells at Thalia. While Kampe was attacking Thalia at an absurd rate, which was draining her Health Bar rapidly, Hazel countered with a number of heals as well. Thalia's Health Bar was going up and down at a ridiculous pace.
"Artemis, got your Powershot?" Annabeth said as she applied a Damage Increase buff to everyone.
"Three seconds," Artemis said.
"Use it as soon as you can." Annabeth said. "Leo, save your Mana for Explosion. We're gonna blow Kampe all the way to her Second Phase after this."
"You got it!" Leo said as he attacked with a smaller scale spell.
Kampe was now covering herself with her wings, trying to block out all the damage. Her scorpion tail was still going wild, chasing after Percy and the other damage dealers. They were just slashing and stabbing at Kampe whenever they got the chance. While most attacks bounced off of her, some managed to wound her. They try not to draw in too much aggro away from the Tanks.
"That tail is so annoying," Luke grunted. "Can we just cut it?"
"Be my guest," Percy said.
"Powershot, incoming." Artemis said as she let loose an arrow that seemed to bend the air around it as it travelled from Artemis's bow all the way through Kampe's wings, tearing a hole through it. It was the same arrow Percy saw she used when she'd fought the Hydra. Kampe roared in pain as she whipped her head towards where the arrow came from, but Frank stepped in front of Kampe, standing in front of her way.
"Root in twelve seconds." Annabeth said. "Nico, use Poison on her."
Nico grunted. "Not enough Mana."
Annabeth cursed. Percy took his time to scan the situation. Percy, Jason, Reyna, and Luke were busy with Kampe's scorpion tail. Thalia and Frank are holding onto Kampe's attention, switching regularly to avoid each of them taking too much damage.
Hazel and Piper are keeping their health up with heals and buffs. Artemis, Nico and Leo are doing bits from the distance while Annabeth is doing her best to make sure the team doesn't fall apart.
"Piper, do you have your Root?" Annabeth asked.
"In twenty seconds." She said. "But I won't have Mana to heal with if I use it."
"I'll give you mine." Annabeth said as she transferred her Mana towards Piper. From Percy's UI, he could see Annabeth's Mana Bar lowering while Piper's increase. "Use your Root as soon as you have it."
Annabeth inflicted Poison onto Kampe, which nicks at Kampe's Health Bar bit by bit as well as slowing her down. "Reyna, you guys up the damage."
"Trying to," Reyna said. "This tail is annoying." On cue, the tail curled up and was going to pierce Jason. Luke rushed quickly and tackled Jason out of the way, but the stinger hit his leg.
Luke growled in pain as he cursed in fifteen different ways. Percy noticed that Luke was now inflicted with Cripple. He can do actions, but he just can't move.
"Luke!" Jason went to his side. "Are you okay?"
"Does it look like I'm okay?" Luke growled. Percy stepped in front of them just in time to parry the scorpion sting again. "I can't continue. I'll be dead weight around here. Move me further away."
"I'll move him," Jason offered. He looked at Percy. "Can you and Reyna deal with Kampe for a sec?"
"Maybe," Percy grunted as he parried another scorpion sting. Even though Kampe has her eyes on the Tanks, her scorpion tail seems to have a mind of its own as it's going for Percy and the others.
"I'll be back soon," Jason said as he dragged Luke away from the battlefield.
"Well, we're one man down." Artemis said as she fired three arrows at once. "Any suggestions?"
"We're gonna get our chance." Annabeth said. "Piper, how long until your Root is up?"
"Eight seconds."
"Everyone on standby," Annabeth said. "On my cue, unleash hell."
"I thought we already are unleashing hell." Thalia panted.
"Well, we're unleashing even more." Annabeth said. "Leo, can you freeze the scorpion tail?"
"You know I don't do ice spells." Leo said.
"Leo!"
"Fine." Leo grumbled. Unlike his fire spells, he looked unenthusiastic about using an ice spell. The stinger part of the scorpion tail was soon encased in a block of ice. Percy and Reyna went to work on the tail.
"Use blunt weapons for the tail." Percy said as he switched to a massive wooden club. He slammed it down onto right where the dragon body meets the tail. Percy took pleasure on hearing that sickening crunch sound.
"Root in four seconds," Piper said.
Reyna used a warhammer and delivered a blow onto Kampe's tail as well.
The monster screeched in pain as the body of the tail wiggled and tried to move, but it was being held back by the block of ice stuck at the end of her tail.
"Everybody get ready!" Annabeth said. Piper then used Root.
Now Percy understood what Annabeth meant by unleashing hell.
Reminiscent to the day when Percy fought the Hydra, Kampe was bombarded with all kinds of attacks. Percy and Reyna slashed and hack at Kampe as she just roared in pain, restrained from moving.
Annabeth, Piper and Hazel applied buffs to everyone and debuffs to Kampe, increasing their damage output. Artemis was firing shot after shot after shot.
In Percy opinion, Nico and Leo did the most damage.
Leo kept bombarding Kampe with fireballs while Nico fired beams of energy repeatedly, each one draining Kampe's health bit by bit. Her Health Bar was slowly reaching the halfway point.
"Leo!" Annabeth said. "Use Explosion now!"
"Been waiting for that." Leo said. "Everyone back out!"
They did as they were told as Leo charged towards Kampe, his whole body was now in flames. "Explosion!" He shouted as his body let out an explosion that would've blinded Percy if he didn't look away in time.
Explosion was an ability that's exclusive to a Sorcerer. When used, it will let out a massive explosion that can deal a shit ton of damage to everyone in the surrounding area. The catch is that it will drain all your Mana and Health to one percent. So it's like a last resort move, Kamikaze style. And when the spell damages everyone, it means everyone. Including teammates.
"Hazel, heal him." Annabeth said as the dust cleared. Leo was laying on the grass next to Kampe, looking almost lifeless. Luckily, Annabeth had put a barrier in front of each of them so that the spell wouldn't damage them. Leo's body was steaming and his Health Bar was at one percent. One attack from Kampe, and it'll be over for Leo.
But Hazel was quick on the heal as she just sighed and healed Leo up. It seems like she was used to this and it was a normal behaviour for Leo to go full on Kamikaze mode.
"I'll get him," Frank said. "He's not gonna be conscious for the rest of the fight."
The rest of the fight? Even after that Explosion, Kampe's still standing?
Sure enough, there she was. Her body was charred and smoking. Percy watched as Kampe's Health Bar slowly closing in towards the halfway point.
She's going to enter her Second Phase.
By now, you must notice a pattern with World Bosses. These Bosses have three stages, depending on their Health Bar. Phase One is when their Health Bar is green. This is the phase where you start fighting it. The Second Phase is when their Health Bar turns yellow, usually if it reaches the halfway point. When a World Boss reaches their Second Phase, they become stronger, faster, and more powerful in general. The Final Phase starts when their Health Bar turns to red, which is always when the World Boss is near death. This is when they're at full power. Most status effects will not work and all damage dealt to them will be reduced. They also become even stronger, making them harder to kill.
"Everyone get ready." Annabeth said. They were now down to ten people left in fighting shape and Kampe's still just in her Second Phase.
"We got this." Nico said. Then, he stared in awe. "Oh shit."
As soon as her Health Bar reached its halfway point, it turned red.
The Final Phase.
"What the – that's bullshit." Percy heard Annabeth said. Apparently, no one has ever seen Kampe below half health. Either it's never been done or the Hacker has altered Kampe's code.
"No, this is how Kampe really is." Piper said. "She doesn't have a Second Phase."
"Well, no use crying over it now." Thalia hefted her shield and ran in front of Kampe.
"Thalia, wait!" Piper tried telling, but it was too late. In a blink of an eye, Kampe swept her now-free tail at Thalia, sending her flying and rolling across the grass like a ragdoll. "Thalia!"
Percy saw that Thalia's Health Bar hasn't reached zero yet, so she's still alive. Thalia grunted in the voice chat. "That didn't go well," She said.
"We have to be careful with this." Piper said. "She's dangerous now."
"As if she wasn't before." Artemis fired an arrow at Kampe. Kampe deflected it with her scimitar and whirled towards Artemis, her eyes flaring with anger. To their surprise, Kampe breathed out a torrent of flames straight at Artemis, who narrowly dodges it. "Holy shit!" She shouted as she rolled out of the way.
Kampe was being more aggressive. On top of that, she's gotten faster. "We can't make reckless moves." Annabeth said. "Frank, as soon as you get in range, go full defensive. Hazel and I will cover you."
"Got it." Frank sounded nervous, but he surged forward towards Kampe. As soon as he was close enough, Kampe snarled at him. Frank took it as his cue and raised his shield up. Kampe brought down both scimitars at him, meeting his shield. Percy hear Frank grunt under the pressure. "She's strong." Frank struggled.
"Hazel, focus your healing on him." Annabeth said while she applied buffs to Frank. Hazel was healing as best as she could, but Kampe was dealing a lot more damage than Hazel could heal.
"I can't do better than this," Hazel said. Frank's health was getting dangerously low. Thalia was still in a daze with Piper treating on her. Nico and Artemis are trying their best to get Kampe's attention towards them, but to no avail. Annabeth was barking out commands on what to do, but there was nothing they could do. Kampe was too strong. They were going to lose this fight.
Percy decided to act. He's not going to let his friends die.
"Percy, stay back!" Annabeth shouted but he ignored her as Percy rushed forward. He could feel the items he's wearing helping him.
"Frank, get ready to switch." Percy said. "Hazel, as soon as we switch, keep your heal on me."
"What are you –" Before Hazel could say anything, Kampe screeched. Percy could see Kampe about to blow fire from her mouth again.
"Silence her!" Percy shouted. Annabeth was the first to act as she casted Silence onto Kampe just in time as nothing came out of her mouth (that sounded so wrong).
Silence is a status effect that makes the target unable to cast magic for a certain amount of time.
"Frank, switch now!" Percy said. Frank nodded and pushed Kampe back before he stepped back. Percy moved in Frank's spot. Percy used a shield to block the swipe of Kampe's scimitar before ducking under the swipe of another one. "Artemis! Keep firing!"
"I know!" Artemis said as she fired arrow after arrow.
"Nico, I hope you're not sleeping." Percy called out.
"Guess again, doofus," Nico said. He summoned a green Anaconda the length of two school bus that slithered out and wrapped itself against Kampe's tail, restricting her movements slightly.
Kampe wailed as she thrashed, trying to remove the reptile away from her body. Percy stabbed and poked at Kampe where he can. Kampe was good at doing several things at once as she tried getting rid of the Anaconda while dealing with Percy at the same time.
"Piper!" Percy asked as he leaned sideways to avoid getting stabbed in the face. "How long until you have your heal?"
"Five seconds."
"Use it on Frank." Percy said. "Thalia!"
"I'm coming!" Thalia said as Percy heard footsteps running behind him. Percy rolled under Kampe's scimitar and stabbed at her morphing waist. Kampe wailed in pain as Percy switched weapons to a mace and smacked Kampe's ribs with it. Kampe swept Percy aside with her dragon wings, sending him rolling onto the grass.
Kampe was fast as she was already on the move, ready to kill Percy. But Thalia made it just in time to intercept Kampe's scimitar, but she grunted under the force of it.
"Damn," Thalia grunted. "She's strong."
Percy wasted no time in getting up and started slashing and hacking at Kampe. "Reyna," Percy called. "Little help?"
"I'm doing it," She grunted as she stabbed her daggers in multiple areas around Kampe's body. Since Nico's anaconda was keeping her tail restrained, they had one less thing to worry about.
"Hazel!" Percy shouted.
"I know, I know!" Hazel said as she healed Thalia. Percy's health was dangerously low as well. "But you need healing as well!"
"Heal him!" Artemis said.
"No!" Percy argued. "Save it for the Tanks." He ran forward towards Kampe.
"Stay back then!" Annabeth argued. "Your health is low!"
Percy ignored them. "Artemis, Powershot." Percy said.
"Thirteen seconds." Artemis said.
"Aim all your attacks on the head!" Percy said. Percy switched to a sword. He ran past Frank who was trying to get Kampe's attention. He slid under Kampe's scimitar as she slices at Thalia. Percy planted his foot on the ground and lunged sideways, to Kampe's side.
"Percy, you're too close!" Annabeth said. "Stand back!"
Percy couldn't hear her, to be honest. Everything was going in a blur. Percy climbed onto Kampe's back, grabbing her wings as he did so.
Kampe noticed this and flapped her wings, trying to get Percy off of her.
"Get her attention!" Percy said. Thalia and Frank joined forces to make sure Kampe's eyes are on them. Percy then continued climbing on her back. The animal heads on her waists were snapping at him, but Nico kept firing beams of energy at them to keep them at bay.
Percy's feet was now propped against the wings, her head was directly in front of Percy. Hazel, Piper and Annabeth were shouting at him to retreat. Their Mana was too low to heal him and the Tanks at the same time.
Percy could only hear Artemis's voice. "Percy, please."
Percy took a deep breath. "Don't miss." He said towards Artemis. "I love you."
He raised his sword, ready for the kill. But his arms wouldn't move. His body wouldn't move. Kampe's head was right there in front of him. Percy lost balanced as he dropped to the ground in a thud. He looked at his Health Bar to see a familiar symbol.
Paralysis.
Kampe couldn't have paralysed him. No one could. Except . . .
The Hacker grabbed Percy by the neck and lifted him up. He could hear his friends calling out his name.
"Pathetic," The Hacker said. "All that effort just to fail." He tightened his grip around Percy's neck. "And now, you will die."
Kampe whirled around and stabbed at Percy's back with her scimitar. The pain was excruciating as Percy screamed internally. Percy had never felt anything like it before. If he could scream, he would've been screaming at the top of his lungs. He could feel a tear sliding down his eye. His Health Bar decreasing towards zero.
He was starting to black out. This was the end of the road for him. As his health goes empty, his vision fades. Just before it fades completely, he counted.
She said thirteen seconds. It's been ten seconds since.
Three.
Two.
One.
Percy could faintly see Artemis's Powershot going through the Hacker's head just before the world around him turned dark.
A/N: Have fun!