Chapter Six: Reyna vs Michael Kahale

The next match set the arena a buzz, many of the Romans were excited to see a praetor fighting against one of the best from the first cohorts. I wasn't as amused as I walked towards the viewing area for a break. I called it myself as I was tired of sharing a mic with Terminus. He was already on the edge after I embarrassed him in front of the legion. I knew I was one insult away from getting vaporized by his godly form alongside everyone else in the arena. Yea, he would do it. No doubt.

The long staircase towards the viewing area was empty as I saw everyone else doing some activities upstairs. I saw Piper and Thalia at the practice range shooting arrows towards moving targets. After the amazing ending to her match, I imagine Thalia was giving tips to an inspiring child of Venus, trying the bow for the first time. Percy was also there with a bow looking depressed. I guess he was inspired too. All his moving targets were clean of arrows, but there were some arrows sticking out the butt of a stern centaur. Will was healing Chiron as he gave Percy a dirty look, while Percy mouthed I'm sorry. I smirked at the silent exchange as Annabeth came my way.

Annabeth was fully kitted for war. Her blonde ponytail swayed in the wind and rested on her shoulders. She had an imperial gold knife and curiously, a baseball cap to her side. She laughed by my side and I laughed with her.

"Your boyfriend is an idiot." I snorted.

"He's our idiot." She said while wiping a tear off her face from laughing. "Can't he see that there's a reason why his pen doesn't transform into a bow?"

"Some people were meant to lead, and others were meant to be in the frontline. Percy is the latter. He was only praetor for a day mind you." I added.

Annabeth sighed heavily. "That's what I keep telling him! He's been holding that over my head for months."

I chucked with her. I don't regret making Percy praetor. There needed to be another leader at the time, but I'm grateful it only lasted a day. Who knows what he would have done as a leader? Having a loose cannon like that as a praetor could lead to disaster. Someone like Annabeth was a much better choice. Then why didn't you include her as a leader when creating this tournament? I said in my head.

Invasive thoughts have been attacking my mind these days. I couldn't help it. We already had Chiron as a leader for the Greek side. It wasn't anything against her.

Annabeth saw me having a silent conversation with myself and stopped herself from laughing again.

"Oh, you don't need to pity me, Reyna. I'm fine not being a control freak for once." Annabeth confessed.

I turned to her shocked by her words. She knew exactly what I was thinking. Probably because she was thinking it too.

Annabeth put her hands on my shoulder and directed my head back to Percy apologizing to Chiron.

"You see that? I would've missed it if I was acting like a leader like I did for the past five years. You would've missed it if you didn't call a break. If it wasn't for Terminus, you would've never done it." Annabeth said as if she was reading my mind.

"You know me well." I conceded to her. "But it's easier for you to say, I don't have someone like Percy to keep me laughing."

Annabeth looked straight at me. Her expression changed to concern. I imagine she had these types of talks all the time with lonely campers. I cringed thinking that. I loathed being pitied.

"You got me, and the rest of the seven. Not to mention Nico who adores you. Don't act as if you're alone." Annabeth added.

I looked towards her and held her hand that was on my shoulder. We shouldn't be friends. We should be at odds. Two leaders of two different camps. Percy and Jason always fought, but Annabeth and I stood firm and respect each other. It was never easy. We almost came to blows when I thought that Camp Half-blood was the enemy, but I trusted her and learned the truth for myself. There was no hate between us. Here we were defying the fates once again.

Besides, I need you to be in top shape if I'm gonna beat you in the finals. Wouldn't be right if you beat yourself mentally. I need an outright victory." Annabeth added.

"Oh please, I don't even want to hear the word victory ever again." I said shaking my head.

At that moment, I knew I screwed up. I let my guard down. Annabeth looked at me with a snide grin. Her grey eyes shining due to the sunset. Octavian's voice came into my head. 'The Greeks will always be schemers.'

"Don't bring up victory? Why's that" Annabeth asked mockingly.

I let my poker face show instead of correcting her. Another mistake as she put the pieces together quickly.

"Let me guess... It was Victoria, right? She ticked you off. Can't imagine her Greek counterpart coming to Camp Jupiter. She's behind this whole tournament?" Annabeth asked.

My poker face melted as a stern look developed across my face. It was the guarded look of a praetor. The face I would wear on the battlefield or in a war room.

"Is being kind to someone so they would lower their guard a tactic used by children of Athena? I don't think your mother would approve of such a strategy. It resembles low cunning."

"Well, my mother doesn't approve of Percy, and look at how that turned out." Annabeth explained.

She didn't look guilty about it. Maybe she did this often. I knew she had to scheme when it came to being in Tartarus. You couldn't always fight in there with primordials stirring. I guess I was far too serious about the subject matter. I don't like being outplayed.

Annabeth noticed my displeasure and scratched her head. "Ok, I'm sorry. I guess I do care a little about not being treat as a leader of Camp Half-blood. Taking a break is nice but being in the dark is the worst for me. I'm not perfect." She said as she looked away from me.

Annabeth was honest with me, and that's all she needed. I didn't keep a grudge for no reason. It was my turn to put my hand on her shoulder. "I forgive you, and yes, Victoria is behind this tournament. I don't know what she's planning, so stay on your guard and don't tell anybody. I'll keep you posted.

Annabeth nodded. She knew just as well as I that Victoria could not be trusted. She was deranged and treated the campers as her playthings.

An Iris message appeared in the hall and in the middle of the arena. Water splashed as a rainbow appeared in the sky once again. It was Terminus coming live from his commentary desk. He was broadcasting himself to the entire camp.

"Alright, breaks over you fools. The next fight is coming up!"

A thought burst through my head. Something that I was putting off. For good reason too.

"Crap, I forgot. I need a commentary partner for Terminus." I spoke. "I can't let him say whatever he wants. Can you cast with him?" I asked Annabeth.

She put her hands in the air. "No way. From what Percy told me, he's just as messed up as Nike."

After saying that, both Annabeth and I were thinking about who could cast with him and it seems that we both concluded on the one person who could handle the border god.

"Percy?" I asked.

"Percy," Annabeth confirmed. "I'll get him right now. You need to get ready for your fight. Any strategy against Michael?"

I started to think about what I could do against him. He was one of the strongest demigods in Camp Jupiter, but he was the most admirable. The shining example of what a centurion was. He would fight on an even playing field no matter the opponent. I pulled out my gladius and felt the sharpness of the blade. There was no time to think. So, I didn't.

"I'm not a schemer like you Greeks. I will fight him honorably and defeat him for the sake of Rome. No tactics needed."

Annabeth smirked. "Insult aside, I'll be rooting for you."

I gave Annabeth my thanks and departed. She was a great friend but will be a harder opponent. I was outplayed in terms of wits, but I won't be played in battle.

I thought the stairway towards the arena would be empty as usual, but I saw Jason waiting for me by the entrance.

I knew his match was coming up soon, so it was odd seeing him without any armor. He wore an orange shirt and dark jeans with a gladius at his side. He leaned on the door and looked straight at me. His mouth curled which made the scar on his lip far more noticeable. His sandy blonde hair was disheveled as if he just woke up, but his stormy eyes were more than awake. He had something to say to me. After all these months of silence.

Jason kept his stance at the door. "Don't underestimate Kahale. He asked me for training, and I helped him for the weekend. The guys a monster now." Jason said.

I pushed the hair away from my eyes and inspected Jason. He was not the same man I knew. No longer Roman. I was a fool for love. For a time, I envision a version of Percy that didn't exist, and now I yearned for a version of Jason that no longer exists. I failed at love, but I won't fail in war.

"I'm aware of Kahale's transformation. He asked to move back home to Hawaii, and I granted that wish. What of it?

Jason inched forward respectfully. "What I'm saying is that he's not the same guy mentally now. He was the best centurion I've ever known. He always followed orders, but because of the war, he changed." Jason scarily said.

"Like you?" I rebuttal.

Jason flinched and a shade of guilt came across his face. Don't give me that. Don't pity me I thought. It was the least of my worries and it degraded my position.

I pushed by him, shoving him to the side. He protested it and landed on the floor.

"Hey! I'm just trying to help you." Jason pleaded.

I turned to him "You should've helped me was when I was running the camp by myself for 8 months. You weren't there, and now you're too late."

Jason got up and took one last look at me before leaving. The coward.

I opened the door to the arena and left him. It was my turn to win.

The arena was cleaned out quickly. Only a few arrows on the ground to take care of. However, there was still a streak of blood on the ground after Thalia won her match by pulling every arrow from her body. I'm surprised she isn't Roman.

In the center of the arena was Michael Kahale. Son of Venus. His almond complexion was a few shades darker thanks to the sunset. He usually had a military haircut, but he let his dark hair grow this year and kept it clean in a bun. He was taller than most. At 6 foot and climbing and his arms were like bridge cables. The only resemblance to his mother was in his chiseled face and his dove tattoo on his shoulder. He also had a gladius on his side and traditional legion armor. His eyes were solely on me, and that gaze never changed.

The boom of Terminus' voice echoed through the arena.

"All right, it's centurion vs praetor. Roman vs Roman. The match that we've all been waiting for. Michael Kahale vs Reyna Arellano!"

The crowd surged and every single Roman was on their feet and screaming for this match. I knew tensions were high, but I didn't think it would reach such a crescendo. This wasn't just a match anymore. I cursed as I realized it far too late. This could determine who will be my supporters and who will be on the side of Kahale. This could determine if I stay as a praetor or not. I had to win, no matter what.

"Oh, yea, and my co-host is the former praetor and one of the round 2 finalists. Give it up to Percy Jackson."

Applause again for the child of the sea. Percy didn't look too please by it, as his gaze was solely on the viewing area. Giving death stares towards a certain blonde.

He put his headset on begrudging. "I better get paid for this." He grumbled.

"Trust me, you won't" Terminus added.

I grinned at Percy's displeasure before looking back at Kahale. He regarded me with a bow. I did him the same courtesy.

I put on a poker face, not willing to show emotion. "Know that I am to win, Kahale. I don't suffer failure."

Kahale put on his helmet. "I wouldn't expect anything less. I, however, am looking for something else."

I looked puzzled. "And what might that be?"

Kahale pulled out his sword and stared back at me. "Resolution."

With that, we both attacked at the same time. Sparks flying from our blades. I was pushed back by his strength alone, but Kahale was as strong as he was nimble as he answered back with a frontal stab. I dodged it and aimed at his side, but my sword bounced off his armor. I swept the legs instead and Kahale did a full jump-off the ground to dodge. He was mid-air for a solid second and I tried to capitalize on it, but I had no time to counterattack as he tried to land on top of me. I rolled out of the way quickly as I ran out of breath.

I put myself in a defensive position to try to get my stamina up. I took out imperial gold knives and threw them at Kahale at full speed. He parried the first three but the fourth stuck true on his lower thigh. There was no time to work with that as he took it out with swiftness with no sign of pain coming from his face. He threw it back at me at twice the speed and it grazed my cheek.

I wiped the blood and ran towards Kahale at full speed. He did the same. He did the same frontal stab again and this time I was ready. I parried it full stop and swiped at his lower thigh. Trying to inflict more damage than before to the wounded area. He then did something I wouldn't dream of. He grabbed the sword with his bare hands. We were locked together. I tried to pull my sword, but his fingers had a vice grip on the blade. I looked towards him as his eyes shine. He pulled his head back and headbutted me. I was dazed, but I didn't fall. He headbutted me again and again but I still stood firm. My eyes were darkening, my mouth was full of spit, my gut was nauseous, but I didn't fall.

I stood firm.

I used my other arm to take Kahale's helmet off. His hair bun fell into a heap of unruly dark hair that covered his eyes. He was blinded for a moment and I took that chance. I headbutted him. Again, and again. I did it faster and with more conviction than he ever did. I screamed to the heavens until I gave him one final headbutt that cracked opened both of our foreheads and created a huge amount of blood from the both of us.

He still didn't let go of my sword.

I knew nothing wouldchange and I let go. Gaining distance as I tried to regroup. My eyes were darkening by the second. I was going to faint if I didn't get out of there. Kahale shared the same damage, both mentally and physically. His hair masked the amount of blood on his face, but it was still dripping down his chin. His thigh was gashed up and bleeding as well. None of that surprised me, but what did was the fact that he still had my sword, and that he still looked straight at me. Eyes affixed at his target. His prey.

I wiped the blood off my face and realized that there was no fanfare. No sounds at all in the arena packed with hundreds of people. It was pure silence. I looked towards the crowd and saw their shocked expressions of horror. They all saw battles today, but nothing like this.

Terminus was the first to break the silence. Gods, I wish I could see his face.

"Uhhh...I didn't say Go yet." Terminus said.

Percy looked uneasy but still had a smirk on his face.

"Then let me say it, Ready, Set, Go."

Ya'll really thought this fight would be one chapter? Honestly, that was the plan, but I kinda fell in love with this version of Michael Kahale. If you don't know him, he fought alongside Octavian during the Giant war before going back to the side of Reyna. He's loyal to a fault, which you will see next chapter. I think this is the first fight without powers. Enjoy it while it lasts.