Chapter 4: The War Games

O...kay then. I guess if Percy were Emperor of Outworld, he'd be Sub-Zero.

Piper POV

I am genuinely impressed by Nero, beating that arrogant a-hole without even wasting his energy. Which reminds me, War Games are coming up. Time to get ready. I hope Octavian's big head won't cost us the match.

Nero POV

War Games? Sounds like Capture the Fla- WAIT! Must...stop...thinking...about...well, screw it. I walked to the bake shop because of what Jason said about the brownies there. On my way, more Lares continued to call me a graecus. Deep down, I just want to scream "I DON'T CARE!". But hey, I got my mind off of them when I got the brownies. They. Were. So. Damn. Good! No wonder I saw Jason drooling when he said "brownies". I was too busy eating brownies when someone suddenly pushed me off someone's path. It was Gwen.

"What was that for?" I asked, but my mouth instantly dropped when I saw what looked like a fully grown elephant with a bullet proof vest that said "ELEPHANT".

"Why do you guys have an elephant in a bulletproof vest?" I asked.

"That's Hannibal. If we don't include him, he'll be really sad." Gwen replied. "Now, Jason told you about War Games, correct?"

"Yeah." I replied, still eating brownies. Damn these are so good.

"But have you heard of the Mural Crown?"

"The what?"

"Goes to the attacker who climbs up the wall first. Bronze badge, laurel shaped, really valuable."

Seems easy enough. Just climb a wall before someone else does?

"Seems easy enough." I said whatever came in my head.

"I'm afraid not." someone said. It was Dakota, holding Kool-Aid as usual. "After Jason became Praetor, we've never won any Mural Crowns." he glumly said, only for Gwen to smack his arm playfully.

"But this game, maybe we can win! Come on! I'll make sure one of us is going to get the Mural Crown." she said in a happy tone.

"You sound so optimistic, Gwen." I remarked.

"Aw, thanks, Nero!" she replied.

We continued talking and laughing as the hours passed.

Third Person POV

Mess Hall...

It was pretty much dinner time. Legionnaires sat according to cohort as aurae served whatever food they wanted. It was a tornado of main courses and appetizers.

Nero sat with the Fifth Cohort between Gwen and Hazel. The son of Vesta got taquitos and cup of blue soda. People were gossiping about him most of the time. Some of the girls licked their lips when they saw him and his fiery eyes and snowy white hair. The guys constantly talked about other stuff that made the son of Vesta special like his clothes, weapons (Red Queen mostly), and Devil Bringer itself.

Piper eyed Nero with curiosity and whenever he turned to her, she looked away with her face flushed red. Confused, the son of Vesta went back to eating his beef rolls and blue soda.

"So, what was the Fifth like when Jason was here?" he asked.

"He brought us honor with his skills and abilities." Gwen explained.

"But, again, after becoming praetor, it's back to square one for us." Dakota murmured, still gulping down Kool-Aid like it was part of his blood.

Nero looked to his other side to see Hazel and her shrimp gumbo.

'There's something rather odd about Hazel.' he thought but he shrugged it off then went back to eating his last taquito before moving on to finish his soda. That's when Hazel turned to him.

"Aren't you the son of Vesta? Why not summon food for yourself?" she asked. Nero glanced at her and put down the cup of soda.

"I'm saving it for when I'm out in the wilderness. For now, I'll let these aurae serve up. By the way, nice taquitos!" he exclaimed to the aurae. One of them became visible and giggled before turning invisible again and went on to serve the other legionnaires. A while later, Jason stood up, raised his cup, and made an announcement.

"I hope everyone ate well, because War Games are coming up shortly! First and Second are to defend, Third, Fourth, and Fifth are attackers. Same rules apply!"

Everyone cheered as they slowly got out of the mess hall to grab their weapons and armor.

'Time to go to work.' Nero thought.

For the first time in Camp Jupiter, Nero Redgrave, son of Vesta, Champion of Mars and Minerva, Wielder of the Devil Bringer, and the next big thing of New Rome,

was wearing armor.

Well, he was ordered to wear the armor. Nero wore the helmet, cuirass, boots, and only one bracer (he didn't put one on Devil Bringer). He didn't wear his coat, hoodie, and headphones again, and the only weapons he would be using for the games are a provided pilum and Yamato (He didn't want to use a shield).

"Fits you fine." Gwen remarked.

"It's gonna hinder my movement like a giant turtle shell." the son of Vesta grumbled.

"Don't blame me. This was Dakota's idea." the daughter of Ceres retaliated.

They walked to the Field of Mars, where the Fifth Cohort members were waiting. There were short mumbles that keep saying "We're so losing", "We can't win.", etc. Irritated, Gwen spoke up.

"Come on, guys! Surely, we can win this time! We even have the great Nero Redgrave on our side!"

They cheered half-heartedly, confusing the son of Vesta, who clutched his pilum.

"Okay, here's the plan:" Gwen announced. "Lock shields, stay in tortoise formation until we're close enough to break."

"You guys do that. Let me take Hannibal with me." Nero told her. Dakota gave him a look that clearly said "WTFF".

"What are you gonna do?" he asked.

"Because their centurions have big heads and don't like me, Hannibal and I will draw fire."

The centurions looked at Nero and stared at his determined orange and gold eyes for a few seconds. Then, Gwen just smiled to Dakota's confusion.

"Alright then, it's a plan." she said.

Meanwhile...

Jake approached one of the Second Cohort members on the water cannons.

"Remember, if you see Redgrave, douse him." he ordered. Piper groaned in annoyance at how only few listened to her, while Octavian, Jake, and Larry were only focusing on taking down Nero.

'If those idiots are going to focus fire on only ONE guy, we're screwed. Okay, I get it. Nero's a badass. And kinda hot...get a hold of yourself, Piper!' she thought.

"Hey, girl!" someone yelled, breaking Piper from her thoughts. Sadly, it was Larry.

"Why the Pluto are you focusing on the defeat of ONE guy?" she asked.

"We're going to teach your new friend a lesson for messing with us!" the egoistic son of Mars snapped back.

"Ugh. You guys are idiots." Piper muttered.

"Watch us beat the crap out of that newbie, cutie." Larry snorted.

"Stop calling me names, dammit!"

They were interrupted when trumpeting was heard. The centurions of the First and Second cohorts rushed to the wall to see Hannibal and their worst nightmare.

"You want me? You gotta get me first!" Nero taunted.

Their blood began to boil, though not as much as Larry.

"Douse him!" he screamed. The water cannons launched at the son of Vesta, they didn't even notice the Fifth Cohort marching at the walls.

Meanwhile...

"What is Nero doing?" Leo asked Frank as their cohorts stood side by side far from the fort.

"I have no idea. Let's go!" the son of Mars announced.

Back at the fort...

The defenders were still attacking Nero and Hannibal with the water cannons but every time, the elephant shields the son of Vesta or he just used Devil Bringer. Only Piper and a few others noticed the Fifth Cohort guys. They freaked out like hell.

"The Fifth are coming!" the daughter of Venus screamed. Most of them didn't seem to care, until they saw the Third and Fourth cohorts charge as well. Most of the other defenders panicked so quickly but Larry and Jake remained too arrogant.

"Don't stop shooting at him!" they ordered but the Second cohort didn't listen.

"The cohorts are coming!" Piper yelled at them. The two idiotic centurions didn't seem to care. It was too late. Nero threw the pilum he had at the wall as it stuck onto the stone like a dart. He grabbed on, built up momentum, and jumped and landed on the wall.

'Good enough. Let's rock!' Nero thought, drawing Yamato and clashing blades with a guy from the First Cohort.

By the time said guy was down, the rest of the cohorts have climbed the walls. They stormed the fort while Jason and Reyna watched in awe at how one recruit was able to lead (sort of) the Third, Fourth, and Fifth cohorts against the "pride of Camp Jupiter". When Larry and Jake attacked Nero (again), the son of Vesta simply swatted their swords and pilums away before kicking them in their shields so hard they hit the ground with a thud.

"Grab the banners!" Frank ordered.

They didn't have to be told twice. Nero reached the banners first after smacking the guards in their guts. He took the First Cohort's banner while Leo took the Second Cohort's.

"We won!" the son of Vulcan cheered.

"The games are finished!" Jason announced. "Cohorts, assemble!"

All five cohorts assembled outside the fort.

"Nero Redgrave, son of Vesta, champion of two, of the Fifth Cohort, step forward!" Reyna ordered. Without shivering in fear, he stepped forward to where the praetors and Scipio were. Jason spoke again.

"For your...ah...special way to reach the wall first, we award you with the Mural Crown!"

Reyna stepped forward and pinned the badge on Nero's hoodie and it gleamed in the moonlight. He gave a slight smile afterwards as almost all the legionnaires cheered. Everyone dispersed and walked back to their respective barracks for a nice long sleep.