*1 MONTH LATER*

PERCY'S POV

Percy looked up as dawn broke. The first few beams of light went through his tent

He did not remember much of the past day. All he knew is that Zeus had almost won the battle- and they had brought the war from the brink. They had succeeded in locking the both forces in a stalemate. His father would be able to leverage this at the council today, and just maybe he could have some peace.

The past day had driven any optimism of this war having a outcome positive to anyone- The massive amount of blood that had been shed. It even made him, one who lives and died by the sword, flinch. The sea had met the sky in a battle of the ages- one of massive proportions.

He did not remember much anyway. It had started of poorly for them, and it had continued into a desperate race against time. He knew the only reason he wasn't mentally fucked right now was the reality had not set in for him. It had been that intense, for him to be like this after 12 hours. He was now stuck inside one of the hunters tents- at least a spare. He rubbed his temples, and the memories came back to him

His forces had attempted to flee in a retreat, but he had managed to rally them with his conch-horn. He had stood with many others, but slowly they had fell back or been struck down- and then it had been him against the odds and against thunder. He was defending a small gorge now, a natural chokepoint, where he had a slight chance of holding them off.

He rose his blade outnumbered 50 to 1- against the forward squads of Zeus's army. Mostly wind spirts and a few demigods combined with the usual portions of his army. This was the thunder gods elites, his main force. He was not deterred by this. He had faced greater foes, and he had always lived by the sword. His skill in combat and his determination to survive would dictate whether he fell or survived- if that was his fate, so be it. Facing death was not unusual for him.

So the son of the sea let out a guttural scream- one made up of pure rage, and brought his sword down on the first foe. And then the second. His reflexes kicked in, now he assessed the situation in it's entirety. The gorge was so steep that they could only fit two abreast- perfect for him to hold

And then the rush of battle fell upon him, the adrenaline rushing through his body love nothing else- the desire to live and die by the way of the sword- his instinct took over. His heart pounded like the sea lashed against a shore- and he was upon his enemy with the rage of a warrior, mirroring Hercules and other great heros before him, as he performed his song, one of death, played by his sword. He did not care about mercy anymore, the full rush of battle upon him, the clang of swords. He bashed a demigods head in, and took his shield, raising it to block the pike speeding towards him. Jab, duck, block, stab. His body was like a well oiled machine, knowing the perfect maneuvers to get the job done. His brain had went full battle mode- calculating a million attack patterns in a mila second before executing his plan.

He now had driven the forces of the Thunder god back by himself. As they had formed outside the gorge. His men had been stuck Fighting behind them. He was the only thing that stood between his forces and death itself. So he rose his sword, preparing for the next wave.

And it had came upon him. Demigods, 1p of them. At this point his vision was so bloodied- his mind so pumped full of adrenline - he did not register they were his former freinds. The rush of battle was upon him, and the candle burned so bright nothing would be able to smother it

He struck them down all the same-he did not kill, but he left them with injuries that would be lifelong-he knew after the battle that he would regret it- but right now his survival instinct had kicked in. Now as they reorganized- this was his only chance of escaping. But he had not recognized this until a arrow- embedded itself in his arm. A silver tip- shit. The amount of adrenaline and rage coursing through him muffled the pain.

The hunters were going to be upon him. Artemis had sided with Zeus over Poseidon anyway, and they would not hold back. Though he doubted they knew it was him, as they would of been mutch more cautious, rather then firing arrows.

The pain was nufflifed but still there. And it shocked him out of his state just enough to realize that staying here while the hunters reigned death upon him wouldn't be a good idea. So he retreated back to his flank.

Bodies and bodies littered the ground- It seems both sides had slaughtered each other in the gamble. No one in sight but the crows- his men had been led to death. But Zeus's forces had also fallen. They had completed their mission. But the hunters were closing distance fast- and he would not be able to fight of 15 demigods and a godess in this state- exhausted. Water was 500 meteres ke so away- he could tell the distance.. it was a small stream. If he could reach it maybe he had a chance of surrvival.

He was forced out of his thoughts as the pain finally set in- the adrenaline had worn off. Now he was just like Boromir of Gondor, left to fight of a force out outnumbered him while implied by a arrow. He fell to his knees from the pain and began coughing up blood.

The hunters had obviously spotted him in this staye- as they had closed distance fast. He recognized the godess Artemis leading them.. with her Auburn hair. Funnily enough she seemed older- around 18. Having a taller build was better in this situation- he supposed.

Thalia flanked her on the right. A mixed look of shock and pity on her face. He did not register the rest of them- he just knelt there.

"Perseus." The goddess acknowledged, with that cold stare drilling into his brain. "I do not wish to end your life- so I ask of you to leave this area." He sensed a mix of pity and sadness in her voice. If it was any other man- he'd be dead already, but he had been a friend of Zoe. And one of Thalias closest freinds.

He coughed up more blood Accepting defeat was something he could not do, as a warrior, he would not yield. Somehow he got up on his knees, and pulled his blade into defensive stance. "I apologize Lady Artemis, but I cannot."

The godess sighed. She knew percy would act like this - and she really wanted to spare him. But he had rose his sword. She would not kill the boy- or harm him to much. Just knock him out

So she had drawn her hunting knives- but they changed into a sword- made out of celestial bronze, with a leather hilt, and carvings of the moon and ancient greek phrases on it. Something better suited to engage riptide.

Percy felt the rush of adrenaline on him again. He would not yield. But he was exhausted as hades- he barely blocked when she threw her attack. So tired. She was fighting at a snails pace compared to what she could- but he was wheezing- Fighting with the arrow in him. He barely drew breath as she struck thr hilt of Riptide- knocking him down. He had a lazy expression on her face- he was that tired and weakened.

He wheezed. Somehow he got up after all that,- the resilient demigod he was- and threw a jab at her- with the power of the eartshaker inside it. His last emission of strength levied a punch equal to the proportions of Ivan Drago- if it was a human there skull would be broken- but the goddess didn't flinch. To her that punch was barely anything. He fell now- exhausted and tired,knocked out. He felt shame burng through him- he had lost.

Artemis PoV in the next chapter, sorry for slow updates, have a bunch stuf going on irl. If you liked the chapter leave a review please.