Hello readers! As I said, chapter 2 is done. Hooray! *crickets chirping* Ahem, right then. This chapter honestly isn't as long as some of my other work but it was extremely draining to write, and I honestly couldn't add anything without messing with my plotline. But enough of my simpering, read on!

"Get inside! Get to Camp Jupiter! I'll hold them off, go!" John yelled at his comrades.

They had returned from a scouting patrol an hour earlier than expected, the reason being that they had found a young demigod being attacked by a group of 20 monsters. The monsters had been dealt with easily enough, nothing Legionaries couldn't handle. Then they had been ambushed by a much larger force, at least 50 of the damned things. They'd nearly lost the new recruit when they were first assaulted and had barely survived long enough to get back to the hidden entrance. Now they needed to get inside.

"I said go! They'll be here any minute!" John repeated firmly.

"John, there are dozens of them, that's more than even you can handle on your own. We can hold them off together."

John glared at the speaker, his best friend Ryan, for a few seconds before replying. "I am ordering all of you to escort the recruit to Camp Jupiter and warn Rome. I'll be right behind you. If I'm not, you can come reinforce this position, after you get her to safety."

"But-"

"No buts! Get mov-" He was cut off as an arrow struck the wall near him. "They're here, get inside now or so help me I'll throw you in!"

His friends, his brothers and sisters in arms, looked at him sadly. They all knew this wouldn't end with him on top. This was his last fight, and he wasn't going to let them risk their lives for him, that was never his way.

"Vale frater." They all spoke as one. Farewell brother.

"Vale. Now go!" He shouted, slamming the door as the last of them filed through the door. They would not see him cry.

"We can't just leave him, he'll be killed!" The new recruit, a young girl named Anna, shouted as the solemn group dragged her down the tunnel.

"Don't you think we know that? He is my best friend, and there is nothing I can do for him but follow orders and pray that he holds out long enough for us to get back."

"The wolves taught me that you never leave a member of the pack behind! Have you forgotten your time with them?" She shouted at them.

"Ryan, she's right. We can't leave him to die out there. We have to go back." Another of the Legionnaires, Steven, stated.

"Alright, alright! Cass, you get Anna to Rome. The four of us will go help John."

"Okay Ryan, good luck."

As they neared the door, Ryan stopped them.

"I will warn you now. John is different when he fights; he changes from the guy we all know when his life is on the line. Don't judge him too harshly if you don't like what you see. War changes him."

"What's that noise? It sounds like 'Animal I Have Become.'" Nick, one of the newer Legionnaires asked.

"It probably is. John is a son of Mars but his mother was an amazing musician. For some reason, whenever John listens to music while fighting, he changes to fit the song. Be warned: stay away from him as much as possible for now. It's for your own good." He said, easing the door open.

The sight that met their eyes when the door opened caused utter shock. There was a force of at least 100 monsters, a mix of Centaurs, Cyclposes, shadowy armored figures, and large wolves attempting to rush the entrance, while the 5 o'clock traffic flashed by obliviously. The greatest surprise was John.

"Where is he? I don't see hi-" Steven was cut off as one of the monsters flew above them and exploded upon contact with the wall.

"There he is." Ryan stated shakily, pointing into the thick of the group. The Legionnaires gasped as they saw what he was pointing at.

There stood John, his Imperial gold armor covered in golden dust and blood, his blood. Looking into his red-plumed helmet, all they could see was blackness except for two burning red holes where his eyes should have been. His cloak and what they could see of his shirt were shredded; his chest-plate, helmet, and shin guards were dented beyond repair. And still he fought on, his dory flashing in and out of the monsters constantly, his hoplon slamming his enemies left and right. There was another collective gasp as the spear snapped and was replaced instantly by his kopis, hacking and slashing the beasts into oblivion. But he was losing ground, receiving more and more wounds to his arms and legs. It was only a matter of time before he was overwhelmed.

"Come on! We have to save him!" Ryan shouted as he and the others charged toward the dwindling horde, only to be stopped in their tracks as a piercing screech cut the air like a knife. The music stopped.

The monsters numbers had been thinned out enough that it was easy to see what had happened. John fell to his knees slowly, unable to bear the weight of the three spears lodged into his chest, coupled with the short sword jammed into the vision-slit of his Greek helmet. He fell back slowly, almost as if he were drifting in water. John, son of Mars, had fallen.

There was a collective howl of rage as the four remaining Legionnaires fell upon the surviving monsters. They would all pay, or so they thought.

A shout of pain to his right made Ryan aware that they had been outflanked by more monsters and that Steven had fallen, along with Angelica to his left. Nick followed them as archers rained hell upon the group, and Ryan felt pain where at least five arrows had pierced his chest and sides.

As more and more monsters poured into the area to surround his bleeding form, Ryan dimly realized that his friends had died in vain. This was no pointless skirmish. Rome was being invaded. Then he thought no more.

Thanks for reading, the next chapter is in progress.