Two Days till Percy's 16th
"It's an ambush!" cried out Clarisse. The campers scrambled out of the way as a car smashed into the wooden barricade they had just erected. "Phalanx!"
Monsters began pouring down the street towards the Greeks. The campers rushed into their formation, linking their shields together and aiming their spears and lances at the enemy.
"Hold!" Clarisse barked out. "Hold!" She waited. And waited. And waited, till the monsters were within range. "Fire!"
The monsters stood no chance. The archers in the back of the phalanx rained down hell on the Titan's armies. Golden dust covered the ground just as Clarisse led the troops on a ground assault. The monsters were not prepared at all for the organized attack. All previous battles had been fought against free fighting Greeks. They believed that their superior numbers would give them the upper hand. They were sorely mistaken. Within minutes all the monsters were dead.
"Hold this line!" shouted Clarisse. "This was only the first wave. They'll be back soon." The campers gave a collective hoorah! and beat their spears on their shields.
"How did they defeat our front lines?" hissed out Kronos.
"It seems as though they're much more organized than we thought," responded Prometheus, as he studied their battle plans. They had launched their surprise attack two days early as Kronos had commanded. Thanks to Morpheus, the entire world was asleep, blissfully unaware of the colossal battle taking place. The Titans had expected to catch the demigods unaware and reach Olympus by noon. What they had not expected, was to find a heavily fortified city, defended on all fronts. To make things more difficult, the Greeks seemed to have developed a genius battle strategy, worthy of Athena herself.
"What did our spies have to say?" Kronos was livid. The room began to grow dark, the shadows edging ever closer to him.
"Nothing, milord," came a voice from behind them. Kronos turned around, eyes blazing gold.
"Iapetus," sneered Kronos. "How good of you to join us."
Iapetus sneered right back, stabbing his sword into the ground.
"We've lost all contact with our spies. Either they've been discovered, or there is no way for us to reach them," he said, ignoring Kronos.
"Iris message them."
"I'm not an idiot, Kronos. We've tried. Nothing works. Iris seems to have disconnected herself from the mortal world."
Kronos snorted and turned to Prometheus and the map.
"Where are their weak points?" he asked, his voice dripping with venom. Prometheus was unfazed.
"They're weakest to the North. Our scouts have pinpointed two streets that aren't as well defended, and six streets that don't have any Greeks at all," he said pointing them each out. "If we launch another raid on just these eight spots, we'll be able to weaken the Greek forces."
Kronos smiled menacingly.
"Good," he said. "Koios!"
A tall Titan stalked into the room.
"Yes?" he drawled out.
"Gather our forces, we're striking back at these worthless Greeks."
"And what will you do milord?" asked Koios.
"I'll be leading our troops into battle."
One day before Percy's 16th
The sound of clashing metal woke Percy up. He scrambled out of his bed on the fifth floor of the Empire State Building, pulled on a shirt, combat pants and boots, and put his leather jacket on.
"Percy?" came a voice from behind him. Percy felt a twinge of guilt and turned around.
"I have to go," he whispered. Artemis hauled herself up to stand up.
"Just… be careful," she whispered back. Percy nodded and gave her a chaste kiss before rushing out of the room, strapping his watch onto his wrist.
"Percy!" Artemis called out before he reached the door. Percy turned his head.
"I love you!"
"I love you too," he said with a sad smile and rushed towards the elevator. It was the longest ride he had ever been on. Apollo's elevator music only made it worse. Finally, the doors dinged and opened up. Percy ran out of the building to where Mathan was shouting orders at some campers.
"Mathan!" shouted out Percy. The burly Roman turned around, his face grim. "What's going on?"
"The Titans launched a surprise attack," Mathan said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "We managed to hold them back, but we haven't finished putting up our defenses."
"Shit," murmured Percy. "Did we lose anyone?"
Mathan shook his head. "Not this time. We were able to drive them back, but it's only a matter of time before they strike back."
"Where are we weakest?"
Mathan grinned.
"We've left eight streets supposedly empty. The hunters and archers are waiting for the Titans to march their way through there."
Percy grinned back before turning towards the street directly in front of him. A mile down the road he could see a legion of soldiers in precise phalanx formation. At their head stood Jason giving what Percy assumed, was a profound speech.
"I'll be defending our Southern flank," he said and began running towards there. "Keep those lines strong!"
Mathan banged his right arm against his chest and turned back to the other campers and continued issuing orders. Percy rushed as fast as he could towards the southern line. Clarisse's troops were just getting back into formation when Percy reached them. Fresh dust lined the ground around them, and the faint stink of monster blood lingered in the air. Percy scrunched up his nose in distaste.
"Has there been any sign of them yet?" he asked Clarisse. She shook her head.
"Nothing yet. It's too quiet out there."
Percy turned and looked at the buildings around them. An idea came to his mind.
"Pull our troops back," he said. "We'll stick to the alleys and inside the buildings. When the monsters come down this street, we'll strike them from the sides."
Clarisse smiled at the prospect of killing monsters and turned to her troops. After barking a few orders, the Greeks were quickly in their positions, awaiting Percy's command to attack. They lay in waiting for hours. The sky was dark, Apollo busy fighting Typhon along with the other gods. Percy's golden eyes scanned the streets, waiting for any sign of the Titans. It was nearly noon when the attack came. The sound of the battle conch behind them told them that the Titans had attacked the Northern line. Percy steeled his nerves and drew Isorropia from his watch.
"Perce?" whispered Clarisse, tapping his shoulder. Percy turned his head. "I know you're a god and a demigod, but… are you immortal too?"
Percy didn't know how to answer that question. Frankly, he had no idea himself.
"I don't know," he answered truthfully. "I don't believe so."
Clarisse paled but nodded. "Just… be careful. I don't want to have to deal with heart broken hunters."
Percy smirked.
"I plan on it." A crash from ahead of him startled him out of the conversation. "Here we go." The monsters ripped towards them, demolishing vehicles and street lights as they stampeded towards them, unknowingly towards the Greek lines. Percy counted in his head. Three… two… one… Without warning he jumped out from the alley he was hiding in, plunging his sword deep into the giant that was leading the army. The giant erupted into dust, just as the rest of the Greek soldiers charged out from the sides. The monsters were completely unprepared for the sudden attack. The demigods fought their way towards the center of the street, the advantage of surprise on their side.
A cyclops lumbered its way towards Percy, but this time he was prepared. The monster swung a massive wooden club at him, which he dodged, angling his body so the club would pass by harmlessly. Before the cyclops could react, Percy spun to his right and plunged Isorropia into the monster's thigh. It let out a ear-shattering roar as it fell to its knees. Percy sneered at it, pulled his sword out, and stabbed the beast in the chest. He was rewarded with a shower of monster dust.
The other soldiers were doing just as well. Despite their few numbers, they still managed to hold off the monsters. Clarisse roared in anger as she saw Selina being locked in conflict with an empousa. The she-demon hissed at the daughter of Aphrodite, and managed to kick her in the side with a goat foot. Selina gasped in pain as she fell to the ground, her dagger dropping just out of reach. The empousa jumped at her only to be thrown backwards by Clarisse's spear throw. Clarisse rushed to the monster and yanked her spear out of its gut and slashed its throat in a spray of blood and dust. Wiping her eyes she turned to Selina.
"Are you okay?" She asked, holding her hand out. The rest of the monsters were all dispatched quickly. Selina nodded and took the hand, hauling herself up to her feet. She brushed the dirt off her armor.
"I'm fine. Is it over?"
Clarisse shrugged and turned to Percy. He was moving to the front of their lines.
"Alright! Well done! The enemy will think twice before trying to take this street!"
The campers cheered. Percy waved his hands to quiet them.
"We still need to hold this line! Clarisse, get your troops back into line!"
Clarisse jumped to the task, immediately issuing out commands to her soldiers. When Percy felt that they were in decent shape, he nodded and left them. He had a feeling that something much worse was coming.
Jason growled in frustration. The Titans seemed to have decided that they would congregate most of their host on his street. While the Greeks were still able to hold their own, they were taking heavy casualties. Jason ducked underneath a sword, thrusting upwards with his lance. The sharp end hit home, burying itself deep into the enemy demigod's stomach. Jason watched the life leave his enemy's eyes, feeling only a little remorse. It broke his heart that other demigods believed that they could fight the gods.
A loud growl beside him broke him from his thoughts. Jason turned around, pulling his lance free and dropping into the first stance of Juyo.
"Spear point!" he cried out. The Greeks regrouped and pulled themselves into a specialized phalanx formation. Instead of the typical square shape, Jason led the spear shaped charge. The monsters growled and hissed at them, the enemy demigods eyeing their formation warily, not having had a chance to learn this style of fighting before they defected. "Charge!"
At Jason's cry the Greeks charged the monsters. The brunt force of their shields and spears pushed the enemy back violently. Some monsters were trampled, others fell to the Greek spears, and a few died from hard hits from shields. Jason smiled and lifted his lance up to the sky. A bolt of lightning struck down, energizing him. Pointing his weapon at the Titan army, he let loose the electricity, vaporizing anything in its path. The monsters paniced and retreated.
"Hold this position!" Jason screamed over the noise of swords clashing. "We hold this line! Do not press farther!" The Greeks held their lines, despite having fewer numbers now. That was when Jason felt his gut drop. The monsters stepped to the sides of the street and a lone figure strode up towards them. The man was tall, much taller than Jason, with white hair and blue eyes. His armor was silver, and his sword stygian ice.
"Surrender now, demigods, or face the wrath of the Titans," called out the figure. His very voice seemed to chill the air. Jason resisted the urge to shiver.
"Never!"
The Titan frowned, but nodded, having not expected any less. "Then you shall die by my hand."
Jason glared at the Titan and pointed his lance at him.
"For Olympus!" he cried out, charging the Titan alone. The Greeks, feeling renewed energy at seeing their leader charge, let out a battle cry and charged behind him. The Titan scowled and lifted his sword up, swinging it around his body. The Greek forces charged past the son of Zeus and the Titan, taking the fight to the monsters. Jason eyed the Titan, searching for any weakness in his armor. The Titan laughed darkly.
"A son of Zeus? How interesting. I'll be glad to give your head to your father as a gift."
Jason sneered and charged. The Titan dodged the first strike, spinning around and bringing his sword down in a downward arc. Jason propelled himself out of the way using the butt of his lance. Spinning out of reach of the Titan, he kicked out with his feet. The Titan roared in anger as Jason's foot scored a hit on his jaw. Jason twisted out of the way, dropping into Soresu. The close-quarter fighting style helped him nearly dodge the Titan's lunges, and strike back just as quickly. Thunder boomed overhead and lightning struck down around them. The other demigods managed to defeat the remaining monsters and turned to watch their leader fight the Titan singlehandedly.
The Titan swung his sword at Jason like a baseball bat, which Jason only barely managed to duck beneath. The Titan, expecting that, brought his foot up and smashed it down on the top of Jason's head, smashing him into the pavement. The other demigods cried out in anger and charged the Titan from all sides. The Titan spun around and caught a demigod in the chest, only to be impaled from the back multiple times by the other demigods. Ichor splashed over their faces. To his credit, the Titan did not cry out. He simply released his sword, leaving it in the demigod, as he collapsed to the ground. A few medics rushed over and took the wounded demigod out of the way, as Jason pulled himself to his feet. The Titan eyed him murderously as he picked his lance up and pointed it at his neck.
"Any last words, Titan?"
The Titan spat out ichor on his face. Jason scowled and wiped it away with his left hand. Then, taking his lance into both hands, he took a step back before launching himself into the air in a full spin, slashing at the Titan's neck. Ichor sprayed out in gusto, drenching Jason from head to toe. The Titan's eyes were wide in shock and pain as he fell onto his face, dead. The Greeks stared at Jason in awe. Jason only took a deep breath and surveyed the battle scene. They had lost too many troops to hold this street any longer.
"We will pull back and help the defensive wall around Olympus," he commanded, turning around and walking back to the Empire State Building. The Greeks nodded and followed their commander.
Percy watched sorrowfully as Jason led a small group of soldiers back to the tower.
"Are you all that's left?" he asked, trying but failing to keep the emotion out of his voice. Jason nodded.
"The Titans hit us hard. Even sent a Titan himself to lead the charge."
Percy's eyes widened.
"Which one?"
Jason thought for a moment. "Koios I believe."
Percy whistled softly.
"That's one mean son of a bitch. Well done, Grace."
Jason managed a weak smile at the compliment.
"What would you have us do?" asked Jason. The Greeks from his legion nodded, eager to put their spears to good use. Percy scratched his chin.
"If the Northern flank has fallen then we'll need to pull back our forces. If we can give the Titan's the illusion that we're retreating we should be able to lure them into a false sense of security."
Jason nodded and began pointing his men to different jobs. Percy pulled out a coin and a water bottle to make an Iris call. Throwing the coin into the rainbow, and issuing a blessing to Iris, Clarisse's face showed up.
"What is it, Perce?" she asked. Percy frowned.
"Pull your troops back. We're retreating to the tower. Get your asses back here now."
Clarisse nodded and began bringing her troops back as Percy slashed through the message.
Percy's 16th
Percy looked around the tower and frowned. There were so few of them left. It would take only a miracle for them to survive this. Jason and Mathan began messaging the other legions to fall back to the tower. In a little less than an hour, all the remaining forces were standing in front of Percy. He looked them over and let out a small breath.
"We're about to fight the greatest battle this world has ever seen!" he called out to them. The soldiers eyed him gravely. "It won't be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But we can stand tall! We've pushed back waves of monsters, defeated a Titan, and proven to Kronos that we're not to be trifled with! The tide in this war has turned. Together we will fight for victory!" Percy stepped down from the steps of the tower to be level with his troops.
"I have full confidence in your courage, your devotion to duty, and your skills in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of the fates upon this great and noble undertaking!" The Greeks roared to life with bravado. They cheered and yelled their approval. Chiron stood behind Percy and felt a single tear roll down his cheek. This would be the greatest test Olympus would face. Today would be the day that the world would either end in ruin, or be free from tyranny.
The sound of distant marching called Percy's attention and he moved through the sea of his troops. They parted to let him through, Jason, Mathan, Clarisse, and Zoe following behind him. In the distance they saw the entire Titan host. They were outnumbered at least a hundred to one. Percy felt a bead of sweat trickle down his jaw bone, but he paid it no mind. At the head of the enemy's army stood an imposing figure, clad in golden armor, and wielding a golden scythe. Percy scowled and stepped forward, away from his troops.
"Who are you, demigod? That you dare defy the King of the Titans!" bellowed Kronos. Percy scowled and let his leather jacket morph into his classic hybrid armor. He pulled Isorropia from his wrist and held it to his side. Kronos' eyes widened in shock. "Impossible!"
Percy shook his head and pointed his sword at his adversary. "You will not pass."
Kronos growled in anger and stalked forward towards his son.
"You're supposed to be dead," he hissed out. Percy grinned.
"I seem to make people believe that a lot."
"This time it won't be a lie. I'll make you pay for sending me to Tartarus." Kronos' golden eyes blazed with fury, only to be met with equal rage in Percy's own golden eyes. Time froze around them. Kronos wasted no words and charged Percy, scythe raised above his head. Due to the fact that he was not in his own body, Kronos was limited in his fighting. Percy used it to his advantage. The two struck blow after blow, sparks showering down with each clash. Kronos was much stronger than Percy, and began forcing Percy back towards the tower. Percy lashed out with his foot, catching Kronos in the knee. The Titan stumbled with a grunt of pain, and Percy turned around and rushed to the steps of the tower, to avoid having to fight through his troops.
Kronos stalked through his army, his eyes trained on his traitorous son. The two clashed arms on the steps. Percy propelled himself over Kronos, landing behind him and thrusting his sword at the Titan's middle back. Kronos, however, was too fast, and spun around to parry it away. Percy grimaced and brought his shield out. Kronos slashed with his scythe. Percy blocked it with his shield, and lunged forward with his sword. Kronos jumped back out of reach. Percy glared at him and stalked him backwards into the tower. Once inside Percy took the fight to Kronos and unleashed a fury of attacks. Slash… lunge… block… spin… stab… none of his strikes hit the Titan. Kronos was simply too fast and strong. Percy eyed the room, thinking of ways to use his surroundings to his advantage. That was his mistake. Kronos' observant eye caught Percy's eyes wandering for a fraction of a second, and that was all it took to strike. He swung his scythe with so much power that it cut into Percy's shield, slashing his arm. Percy howled in pain and ripped the shield off his arm, throwing it to the side. His left arm hung limply to his side, now completely useless. Kronos smirked evilly. He charged his son, swinging his scythe with tremendous speed. Percy ducked underneath Kronos' swing, and brought his sword up, catching the underside of Kronos' arm. Ichor splashed over them both, catching Percy in the eye.
Kronos growled in frustration and pain and kicked Percy in the side. Percy flew across the room, smashing into the wall where he collapsed to the ground in a heap. Isorropia returned to his wrist as his watch, but he couldn't muster the strength to get it out. Blood poured down his head, and the room seemed to be covered in black spots. He could just make out Kronos making his way towards him.
"So," drawled out Kronos. "My eldest son. The supposed hero of Olympus. The one who would bring balance to the world, has fallen by my hand. What a glorious day this is!" Kronos reached down and grabbed Percy by his jacket. He spun Percy around and put him into a headlock. Kronos laughed with glee, as he began squeezing Percy's neck. The bone's in Percy's spine began snapping, and he knew that he was only moments away from dying. Suddenly the words from the prophecy came to his mind. The hero's soul the blessed blade shall reap. Isorropia was the blessed soul. He had to get it. Percy struggled to get his good arm to reach his wrist, but he finally managed to pull Isorropia out. His neck was about to snap any second. He couldn't breath. The world was going black. He took the blade and gave a silent prayer to Artemis.
I'm sorry, he whispered in his mind. Pulling his arm back, Percy thrust his sword into his gut, impaling him completely, but also catching Kronos in the chest. The sudden attack made Kronos let go of Percy. Percy collapsed to his knees, Isorropia sticking out of his gut. Kronos fell backwards against the wall.
"H-how is this possible? I bare the curse of Achilles!"
"My… sword… is not hindered by any curse," gasped out Percy. A single choice to end his days. Olympus to preserve or raze. He had made the right choice. With a gurgled breath, both Kronos and Percy felt their life flee their bodies. Darkness washing over Percy.
A/N: This is the last chapter of Balancing Act! Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me through this. I hope you all have enjoyed reading this story as much as I have had writing it. Sadly, we didn't reach twenty reviews (I know I didn't give a deadline but I was excited about releasing this chapter) so you all will have to wait a little longer before the sequel, Balancing Act: Civil War, will be up.
Thank you guys for reading, reviewing, favoriting, and following. You guys are seriously the best! Please let me know what you guys think about this chapter and this story as a whole.
Finally, as promised, only three people. Congratulations to ro781727, SkyRamoth, and Sithdoom for catching the Star Wars references to the seven forms!
This is me signing off on Balancing Act. Look for the sequel anytime soon!
Update 2/17: I know this story has left on a fairly anti-climactic note but the next story will pick up right where this left off.