Chapter 17- A New Level (Five Finger Death Punch)
(Nico POV)
The battle had long since gotten rather repetitive and the only difficulty I was really having was with was the mother monster. She had started to attack me directly more often. With a roar, she leaned back and the tentacles in her chest reached out to smash me to the ground. Leaping and dodging all over, I managed to dodge most of her strikes. However, one of her tentacles swung wide and caught me in the side, throwing me to the other side of the rotunda.
Staggering to my feet, I noticed the mother was reaching her claw back behind her head. Drawing in my shadow and falling into it, I reappeared on her snout and shoved my blade in her right eye. Not waiting to see how effective the attack was, I shadow traveled back to the ground.
REEEEEEREE
Effective, I thought with a smirk, Maybe I can do this after all. Only to be proved completely wrong when the monster clenched its claws and gave of a massive roar, spraying the ground with more of its disgusting children. I suddenly noticed that I had manage to get enough red orbs to upgrade my blade again from all of the minor enemies I had killed. Focusing and channeling all of my red orbs into my blade, I raised it to its third level. In a burst of power, I unleashed a new attack as the Spider like monsters got close.
Drawing Apelpsiao back in a baseball stance, I cried out, "SKIA..."
Focusing and pulling shadows into my blade until it could contain no more. "...KATHETOS!"
Swinging forward with all my might, I released the powerful shadow slash at the group of monsters. The attack was a massive burst of concentrated shadow, released from the edge of Apelpsiao, thrown forward in a crescent shape. The first monsters it touched it cleaved in two and continued till it hit the next row, where it washed over the row disintegrating a few before dissipating(A/N).
It was a powerful attack but I couldn't fire off more than another one or two. The drain from using what had to be my most powerful attack was enormous. panting from the use of my new attack, I didn't hear the spider creature sneak up behind me till it was too late to defend myself. As I braced for impact, I felt my powers activate on instinct. I watched as shadows began to wrap around my body and formed into cloth, the bound to my skin wrapping all the way around. I could tell without looking that the cloth appeared all over my body(A/N).
The monsters claw hit the cloth and bounced off, causing it to scream in rage. Turning around, I shoved my blade in its open mouth, the point exiting out its abdomen. As it dissolved, I noticed that my cloth armor was steadily draining my strength. Deciding to save what was left off my energy for my Skia Kathetos attack. I planned on using it against the mother monster next chance I got. Readying Apelpsiao, I faced the last of her brood. I was going to end this, with or without Percy and Thalia.
(Percy POV)
I was tempted to swap with Thalia after the wraiths appeared, but when I started to offer she looked at me like she wasn't sure weather to stab me in the throat or ignore me. Either way, I left her to it.
Leaping into the middle of the group of Undead Legionnaires, I stated slashing everywhere. Up, down, left, right, forward, and behind. Everywhere I swung Riptide, I slashed through an Undead. Slowly their numbers began to dwindle, and not a one of them had managed to touch me. For once I began to feel the thrill of battle. Normally, I was too busy fighting for my life or protecting someone or trying to out smart the enemy. But now, with out any real threat facing me, I felt it.
A massive rush of adrenaline and giddiness had me laughing out loud while I cleaved through the weak Undead. Lost in my battle craze, I hardly noticed what was happening with Thalia.
(Third Person POV)
While the son of Poseidon was loosing himself in his own battle, Thalia was being pushed in her own. From the menacing look of the wraiths, she had assumed that it was going to be a hard fought battle, and for the most part she was right. Their speed made countering nearly impossible and the unique way that they moved around made them hard to catch. She was tempted to switch to using Typhon's Bane, but with the constant need of her shield to block what would normally be deadly strikes.
Parrying another deadly strike aimed for her midsection, Thalia leaped back and let her instincts guide her. drawing her spear back as if to throw it, she looked down and a red energy coated the weapon before she hurled it into the ground.
Instead of getting stuck in the ground, It turned into pure energy and rippled outward in a shock-wave throwing the wraiths backward and the landed on their back, unmoving.
The Spear of Destiny reappearing in her hand, Thalia took a moment to think before slamming her shield into the ground and releasing a burst of red energy, throwing the wraiths into the air. (A/N)
Pulling the spear to her side, Thalia ducked behind her shield before pointing the tip of the spear in the air and letting it stab into the in a flurry of stabs, all a part of a vicious Spartan Offensive. (A/N)
In a moment, the wraiths were reduced to a pile of ash, their essence returning to Tarturus. Finally finished with her fight, the young Hunter of Artemis turned to look for Percy only to find in sitting at the edge of the rotunda, watching her intently.
(Percy POV)
I hadn't bee waiting for very long for Thalia to finish up her fight with the Wraiths. I was really tempted to jump in, and help her fight them off, but right as I was about to attack on of the wraiths, she threw her spear in the ground and I was blast off my feet. Taking that as my cue, I decided to sit back and let her handle it. After all, it was her fight. As for mine...
Once I had gotten into a grove, it took me seconds to rip through the remaining Undead. A few well placed slashes, and counters, and they were dust at my feet. Thalia, however, must have had trouble keeping up with the Wraith's speed, but it was obvious that she had figured out how to counter that now. It was made evident by her savage attack.
Finally, finished with her fight, Thalia turned to me, and seemed to be annoyed that I was just sitting here. Not my fault that she stuck me with the weaker enemies. Taking a step towards me, her eyes suddenly rolled back in her head and she dropped her spear. "THALIA!" I cried out as she fell to the ground with a crash.
(Third Person POV)
On a cliff over looking the a stairway that connected Olympus and the Underworld, the Former God Of War, Kratos stood, monitering the progress of his students. At first he had reservations about training them this way, but they had proved themselves to actually be rather capable. It was amazing really, he thought, their growth rate is impressive.
"Are you impressed yet, Spartan?" A voice from behind him questioned.
Without looking back, Kratos responded, "Hello, Athena. Why have you come back in here?"
With an air of false indifference the wisdom goddess replied, "I merely wished to see how the demigods were progressing."
The Former God snorted in disbelief before answering, "They are doing well enough. However, we both know that is not the reason you are here. If you have come with another request from Zeus, you can forget it. I have already done far more for him than originally intended, and he presses his luck by asking for more."
Athena remains silent till she stands beside him. "I do not come with a request from Zeus. I came to help you with there training."
The Spartan Warrior stiffened before asking, "What do you mean, Athena?"
"I approve of your methods so far," Athena said quickly, "But I wish to aid you and the mortal in the process by setting them on another series of challenges."
"Explain."
Turning to face the Ghost of Sparta, Athena continued, "Its simple. An Ancient, evil tower that was locked away by one of humanities oldest protectors has resurfaced. The council believes that perhaps Kronos unleashed it in an attempt to distract us and weaken us. We voted to ignore it, but I believe if we do, then all of humanity will suffer and the demons will rise."
The former gods eyes widened in surprise. "Demons?"
"Yes, Spartan," Athena answered, "There is much about this world you do not yet know.."
(Percy POV)
I managed to dash forward and catch Thalia before she hit the ground much to my relief. On instinct I looked all around trying to find what had hit her. I didn't see anything, but I still help her close and kept an eye out. Then, I noticed that the barriers weren't covering the entrance and the exit.
Looking down at Thalia in confusion, I noticed that she was sleeping. The asshole passed out! She wasn't knocked out, just exhausted. Or maybe it was blood loss, she did have a cut on her side.
Sighing in relief that the wound wasn't too fatal, I lifted her in arms bridal style and carried her through the exit. With luck we had enough time for her to rest and still make it in time for us to save Nico.
.
.
.
.
Thankfully I didn't have to carry Thalia too far because a rest stop was only a few feet from the exit of the last level. Once I got in their, I got Thalia set up on one of the cots and and started carefully dressing her wound like I had seen the Apollo kids do at camp.I made her drink some nectar and pulled a blanket over her so she would be comfy while she slept. She looks cute when she's asleep, I mused, before berating myself and shaking my head.
She always looks cute, said a voice in my head. Shut up, I screamed back at it. I honestly half expected it to be Aphrodite messing with me or something. Kind of wished it was for a moment just so I could blame what I was feeling on someone else.
Not that I even KNOW what I'm feeling, I thought gloomily. Nibbling on an energy bar, I let my mind wonder. I was worried about my mom and Paul, and how the camp was doing. About weather or not Annabeth was still mad at me or not. And how much luck Grover was having with convincing the nature spirits to help us fight Kronos. Letting my anxiety get to me, I suddenly felt like I couldn't sit still. I mean, I wanted to stay and watch Thalia and make sure she was okay, but at the same time if I waited and let her rest Nico might get hurt. Plus, she would want to fight in the next round with me and she needed to rest.
Making sure Thalia was secure and comfortable, I decided to go ahead and take on the next level. After all, If the next level is anything like the last then I would be fine. Besides, once I took care of it, I could double back and grab Thalia before heading to the last level and saving Nico.
Grabbing Riptide from where I had leaned it against the wall of the cave, I walked out and down. It was time I ended this.
(Third Person POV)
It was a surprisingly long walk to the next rotunda, but Percy blamed it on not having someone to talk to on the way down. He already missed the punk daughter of Zeus and that confused him more than anything, but he attributed it to being worried about her.
Rushing to the middle of the rotunda, his body tensed in anticipation. This being the Hades Level, he fully expected it to have a massively powerful main monster to fight. The barriers were raised moments ago, but nothing had appeared. Then, he remembered that who the patron of this level was. Hades.
Aw, shit, he thought, as lava poured in from the sides and began to gather on one side. Slowly the molten earth moved and shifted, gathering into a massive puddle before it began to lift off the ground and take a more solid form. It slowly began to form a giant monstrous minotaur with an extra set of arms. Its body still appeared to be made of molten rock and lava. With each passing second it got bigger and bigger, till it was easily ten times the size of the teenage son of Poseidon.
"Well, fuck," Percy muttered.
RRRAAAGGGGHHHH
With that, the vicious monster charged, and lashed out with the two arms on its left side. Moving as fast as he could, Percy leaped to his left with Riptide flashing as he went in an attempt to slash the Minotaurs side.
Rolling into a crouch after his somewhat ineffective attack, the son of Poseidon found it hard to breathe. The heat coming off of the Molten Minotaur was so intense, that the demigod's clothes nearly caught fire just from being too close to it.
Scowling, Percy tried to come up with a plan. Close combat with this monster appeared to be suicide, and his powers would be ineffective as well. The sheer heat of the monster would cause any water that would come close to evaporate long before it ever touched it.
Roaring in rage, the Minotaur sunk its claws deep into the floor of the rotunda, grabbing up large chunks of the marble flooring in each claw. With no warning, the monster flung all four chunks at the son of Poseidon, each piece coming from a different angle. Time slowed down for the trapped hero, and acting on instinct he dove to the left, and rolled just out of the way of the massive chunk of marble. Drawing forth Eruyale's Head, he started to pour his energy into the magical monster head. Percy hadn't really got to use the gorgon's head yet, but he had no other options left. If it didn't turn the Minotaur into stone, he was in for one hell of a fight.
He watched in curiosity as green energy poor from the Head of Euryale, and cross the distance to envelope the powerful minotaur monster. I took a moment for him to feel the drain of power. The son of Poseidon's eyes widen as he realized his energy fueled the Heads' ability. Nonetheless, Percy maintained the connection, silently willing the minotaur to become stone.
His hope began to drain away as more and more time went by and the minotaur was still dripping molten lava, the only sign that the green glow was doing anything was the monster was moving at a snails pace towards him. After a few moments, Percy started to breath heavy, and as the seconds ticked by the minotaur continued to move and his breathing had turned to ragged gasps for air.
Deciding that it wasn't working, He willed away Euryale's head, and re-summoned Riptide. Without the petrifying energy of the severed gorgon's head slowing it down, the Hellish Minotaur surged forward at full speed, with its top two arms pulled back over its horns. Acting quickly, Percy dove to the side barely missing its arms that smashed into the ground where he was standing a moment before. The force of the strike caused him to stumble and nearly fall flat on his back. Catching himself, Percy kept his eyes trained on the minotaur, thinking, maybe this was a bad idea...
(A/N): 1)Nico's newest AND most powerful attack. Basically it looks like Ichigo's Black Getsuga Tensho from bleach, its a concetrated slash made of pure shadow. It's rage and power at the moment is severely limited.
2) Nico's newest defensive power. It covers him in the cloth used in mummy burials, except the sloth is stronger than and metal, however it is a constant drain on his strength and power. Continuous use can cause him to pass out and the cloth to shatter and fall off.
3) The Rage of Leonidas attack from the Ghost Of Sparta game. A previously unused attack.
4) The Spartan Offensive attack from the Ghost of Sparta game. Previously unused.
And here we are at the end of another chapter. I've been crazy busy lately, between taking care of my son and work, I've had close to no free time. Anyway, I had planned on making this chapter MUCH, MUCH larger. However, I noticed that I had reached 100 Followers AND over 30,000 views! That and This story is now officially a YEAR OLD! Yesterday was it's birthday and I just can't believe how far I've come with this story so far. Of Course, I had hoped to have gotten a lot further, but I'm not disappointed! Naturally, I had to celebrate, and why not celebrate with a New Chapter? Anyway, I fully intend for the next chapter to wrap up this arc, that way I can start on the new one. Just keep in mind the next update will take a WHILE. All the same thanks for reading, now Review! Have a good day and good bye!