Chapter 9 The Awakening

Leo POV

Ever since I had teamed up with Percy and ran off I was getting stronger and stronger. There was no doubt about it. I had harnessed my fire-powers to the best they had ever been. Percy even made me his General because he noticed my improvement.

We were only a month into this war and things were running as smooth as possible. We were focusing all of our power on a full throttle attack on Manhattan. It was funny; the Greeks were marching from San Francisco to take out the Romans in New York. We had taken out stronghold after stronghold. The loss of Dionysus greatly affected the Olympians.

Right now the main battalion was with me in a fort we set up in St. Louis. Anything west of that point was our territory. We were 300 men strong, 200 less than I would have liked but it should do. The Olympians controlled the east coast.

I sent Nico with a squad of 40 demigods up north to Detroit to set up a camp there. Percy was in a fort in Dallas with the other Gods waiting for my orders. The only God I brought with me was wife, Khione.

What to do? I pondered

My scouts were telling me that Jason was made General of the Olympian Army. He was gathering his forces in New York. The other Gods were scattered down the coastline.

Artemis had set up camp with her hunters in West Virginia. Apollo and my dad were stationed in Memphis, Tennessee. Zeus and Poseidon were set up in Atlanta. Ares had a heavily fortified base in Chicago.

We were moving to strike Memphis within the next couple of days. We were awaiting news from our scouts before we could do anything and then I would make the call on our next move.

I was studying a map in the war room. The room was filled with my highest-ranking soldiers, Zach, Son of Athena. Chris, Son of Ares. Rebecca, Daughter of Demeter. Kyle, a Son of Apollo and also my second in command. The map was laid out very intricately in front of me. In the center of the map was an orange block symbolizing the main army. Where Dallas is there is a green block for Percy and the other Gods. Where Detroit is a black block for Nico.

On the other side of the map were triangles for our enemy strongholds. I studied the suggested plan by Chris. We were to have Nico tiptoe around Ares in Chicago and have him directly attack Artemis in West Va. Percy and the Gods would attack Atlanta. We would take out Memphis and meet up with Nico and destroy Ares. I didn't see any flaws with the plan. It would just be very tough, as we always knew it would be.

Memphis had around 100 soldiers and so did Chicago. I adjusted some of the pieces on the map. I looked at Chris.

"We will split this battalion up, you and Rebecca will take half our soldiers to Chicago; Kyle and I will take the other half to Memphis. I want you to take anyone who's skilled in close combat. Leave the long distance fighters to me," I ushered. He nodded and went with Rebecca to create a battle strategy. Chris was a headstrong soldier who shows results on the battlefield, I had faith he could take down his dad.

A son of Hermes ran into the room and handed me an envelope. I opened it and read the letter. Nico was ready for attack. I set it down and walked out of the room. Kyle followed right behind. I went to the barracks.

"Jefferson, send word to both camps we strike with plan 13 tomorrow night." I ordered.

"Yes sir!" he saluted and ran to write the letters. I walked over to the arsenal.

"Kyle, make sure everyone who is with you and me bring suitable weapons for our siege." I turned to face him. "We will use tactic 33-B."

He looked at me wide-eyed and smiled. He nodded and went to do his task. I noticed a familiar icy presence in the room.

"How's my little general doing?" Khione asked.

I stared at the wall in front of me. "The battalion sets march tomorrow night, I want you to rendezvous with the other Gods on their march to Atlanta."

"I want to stay with you." She pleaded.

"I cant let you, there is too much risk in bringing you along." I said to her. I turned towards her and looked into her eyes. "I promise we will meet again in Atlanta."

"You better." She said. She gave me a quick kiss and then walked away.

I exited the armory and walked to where Chris and Rebecca were. I entered the Senate House to see them with other campers. Chris was bringing the entire Ares cabin and all the other close combat specialty fighters.

"Leo, we plan to attack the fort with an attack from underground, we will need some of the Hades kids." He said without turning from the map he was looking at.

"Bring as much as you need, you will need all the help you can get." I told him. He nodded and I left for my chambers. I lay in my bed and waited for the day ahead.

My dreams were filled with nightmares. I was in a city filled with flames, flames that I had created. Lying in front of me was a burnt figure I couldn't make out. The man looked like he was in excruciating pain. His screams were all I could hear.

He spoke up. Eyes burning bright from the flames of the fire "I will ruin you, Leo Valdez."

I woke in a sweat. Who was that enshrouded in fire. I brushed it off and started getting prepared for nightfall.

Twelve Hours Later

I stood in front of my troops. We were gathered outside the fortress. Everyone was fitted with horses we looted from various stables across the country. Percy had enchanted them to run 4 times as fast as they usually would.

Kyle stood on my left and a son of Hermes stood on my right. Kyle was the true meaning of a prodigy. He was better with a bow than the Hunters of Artemis. His blade skills were better than the children of Ares. He was wiser than the children of Athena. In my mind he is one of our most valuable weapons in this war.

I looked to our soldiers.

"We ride to Memphis." I shouted. A chorus of cheers erupted from the soldiers. We rode off. According to my calculations we would be there in 3 hours. We would strike in the night of dark.

Their fortress was an abandoned warehouse in a forest outside the city. I knew this battle would be especially tough because I would be fighting my dad. Kyle would also have to face his dad.

Three Hours Later

The battalion and me were kneeling in the shrubs in front of the fortress. I looked at Kyle.

"You know what to do." I told him he nodded. He turned and signaled to his siblings. They all started to climb the trees next to them. Once they reached high branches they jumped from lib to limb to where they were near the base. Next I had the children of Poseidon move to the river next to the fort. Lastly, I ordered the children of Hephaestus, who were dragging canyons, to set up within their range.

When I gave the signal Kyle and his siblings would unleash a volley of arrows, the Poseidon kids would flood the fort, and the Hephaestus kids would fire on the fort. The rest of us would charge.

I whistled as loud as I could. Explosions rocked the fort. I charged with an army behind me. The first Roman ran at me. I ducked and slashed across his chest with my fire sword. I ran through the ranks and must have taken out 20 on the way. The Romans were caught completely off guard. We were winning the battle; victory was drawing near.

Kyle came out and pulled me aside, away from the chaos of battle.

"We're doing good now but when Apollo and Hephaestus come out we need a strategy." He said.

"It's simple, I take my dad and you take yours." I turned to him. "I know you can do it, I believe in you."

He nodded. There was a loud crash. We turned the corner and standing there was Apollo and my dad.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't little Leo and his ragtag army. How cute." My Dad teased.

I looked at him and didn't respond. I drew my sword and pointed it at him.

"You will be dead come dawn!" I shouted. I charged at him, he took out his hammer. We went back forth for a little. I was attacking very aggressively. I spun around him and kicked him in the back. He flew into a nearby wall. I looked over to see Kyle matching up against Apollo. The children of Apollo were aiding him. I averted my gaze back to my dad who was getting up from his recent tumble.

"Impressive." He looked at me. "To think my son could become stronger than me. I better end this now."

In one swift movement he smacked an off guard Kyle in his back. Kyle flew against the wall and smacked against it with a thud. He rolled to the ground and Apollo put an arrow in his head.

Rage consumed me.

I felt a weird sensation that I had never felt before. An entirely new feeling overtook my body. I could feel my skin being ripped off. I could feel my body becoming something else. I looked at my arms and they had become completely encased in fire. My entire body had turned into fire.

I had power that I was overwhelming, power that I had never felt before. I looked at them and disappeared. I appeared right behind Apollo and stabbed him in his back. He dropped to the ground and turned to ashes. I swiped at my dad who dodged. I was pressing to where he couldn't defend anymore. I slashed across his chest and promptly impaled his throat. He burned to ashes like his brother.

I looked at the other troops. "Leave this fort."

My soldiers hightailed it out of there. I was surrounded by all the remaining Roman troops. I extended my arm and shot fire each and every way. In minutes the fort had burned to the ground. I emerged from the fort, still encased in fire, towards my troops.

"We are Victorious!" I shouted.

Percy POV

I was sitting in a room with the other Gods. We all were waiting for news from Leo. I looked up at Piper who was smiling at me. In an instant an Iris Message appeared in front of our eyes. It was a son of Hermes.

"You are to march to Atlanta." He said quickly.

I looked towards the other Gods. "You heard him."

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