My Discord - /DbNtv2wyhN
The Alaskan air was heavy in the valley. Hurricane winds raced through the trees with such velocity, threatening to level anything that dared to stand against it. Raindrops the size of golf balls pelted the ground, turning it into a sickly shade of brown mud and thunder loud as cannons echoed across the dark, stormy sky. In the middle of all the chaos, stood two lone men surrounded by the destruction that they had wrought upon their home. Their auras were suffocating, both trying and failing to overpower the other. Chests heaving, eyes glaring, and hands wrapped tightly around the grip of their weapon, these two men of war wanted nothing more than to make the other submit.
"I thought you were my brother." Percy snarled, circling Jason like a wolf ready to kill. "I was there for you when times were rough and this is how you repay me?!"
"You're the cause for these rough times. You're just too blinded by your pride to see it." Jason clapped back, mirroring his cousin's movements. "You're the reason for Leo's death. You're the reason for our friend's deaths. You're the reason why my unborn child never got to see the light of day!"
"That was our enemies that did that! You know that! You can't put that on me."
"You mean the enemies you let into camp with open arms?" The son of Jupiter mirthlessly chuckled, glaring at Percy with unbridled rage. "It was you who let in these people that would've happily killed us without a second look had they won the battle in the northern plains! It was you who betrayed the Gods and begged us to come with! It was you who let us get captured by the Olympian forces and dragged across the country. It was you and your stupid self-righteous savior complex that has gotten all these people killed!"
Percy stopped in his tracks as he registered the emotions boiling inside of him, begging to be unleashed. Shame, guilt, sadness, anger, rage, he felt them festering inside, silently telling him that what Jason said was true. It was all true and there was no escaping it, no matter how many lies he or the others fed him. Jason smugly smirked in satisfaction seeing his words hit deep. He felt no remorse or regret for what he said. He wholeheartedly stood by them. Let Percy feel for once what he has been feeling since his child was ripped from the belly of its mother.
"How many deaths have there been all because you wanted to leave Olympus, huh? How many thousands of people you said you wanted to protect have been killed all because of one decision you made? You couldn't protect Hazel. You couldn't protect Leo. You couldn't even protect your own mother and yet you say you'll lead us to salvation and prosperity!"
That statement caused something to click inside the green-eyed demigod. He could hear a sound similar to glass shattering inside his mind. Heart racing, vision blurry, and hands shaking in uncontrolled rage, he slowly lifted his head to reveal an unsettling smile and poisonous green eyes that promised death. It had finally happened, after all this time of trying to prevent it, it had finally arrived. The constant restraint and hiding. The fear of being seen for what he truly is. All of that didn't matter anymore. His mind, the last bit of sanity he had left, had officially been broken. Gods help anyone who had the misfortune of being on the wrong side of that.
Jason felt the air on his arms stand straight, signaling to him that something was wrong. He didn't let that affect him, instead, he raised his sword defensively and awaited Percy's next move. His cousin tilted his head to the side slowly, his eyes staring straight through him. The son of Jupiter couldn't stand to look into them, hastily looking away which proved to be a fatal mistake. Disappearing like a light bulb being turned off, the son of Poseidon instantly appeared millimeters away from Jason's face and headbutted him, sending him flying backward into the dirt behind him. Not giving his cousin a moment of reprieve, Percy was on the attack, lunging at the downed Roman who did all he could to roll out of the way before Riptide pierced his torso.
Attempting to get to his feet but finding a boot bashing his face in, Jason was once again sent backward, hitting a tree behind with so much force that it splintered into pieces. Spitting out a glob of blood that was pooling in his mouth, he could feel his nose had been broken from the strength behind Percy's kick. Feeling the warm blood trickle down his face, he gave a mirthless smirk as he got back to his feet, watching Percy emerge from the rainy darkness like a shadow in the evening light.
His green eyes growled dangerously bright behind his golden mask. Eyes that screamed of anger and promised pain. Looking at Riptide which shone brightly in the rain, its bronze sheen looking melted thanks to the water, was all that Jason could see coming at him at incomprehensible speeds. Blocking the weapon with his own, the two cousins were deadlocked, staring at one another with a mixture of emotions written across their faces.
"Don't make me do this, Jason." Percy's muffled voice behind the golden mask warned. Jason grunted from the strength the son of Poseidon possessed, watching in horror as his sword slowly began to be pushed back to his neck. "You can't beat me."
Those four words hit the son of Jupiter like a train, causing his heart to pound angrily in his chest. Letting out a pure primal shout, Jason somehow managed to lead Percy's sword away from his neck before jutting out his hand toward his chest, sending a torrent of lightning directly into his cousin's upper body. It was now the son of Poseidon's turn to go flying off into the woods, managing to fly through the wet mud with Hermes-like speed.
"Fuck!" Percy groaned as hit the ground hard. Although he had the curse, it certainly didn't help protect him against lightning. Gripping Riptide tightly in his hand, the green-eyed demigod looked to the dark, stormy sky to find his cousin floating above him, lightning shimmering across his body as he outstretched his hands. He had a crazed smile on his face as he looked down upon Percy, feeling as if he were on top of the world. The power flowing through his veins was intoxicating. Laughing crazily, Jason sent tendrils of lightning toward Percy, who could only dodge them. Running through the trees that were being blown up by the Roman demigod's power, he managed to take cover behind a boulder, allowing himself a moment of reprieve.
Percy cursed himself as he leaned against the rock. Things would be so much easier if this wasn't Jason whom he was fighting. He could simply just make their heart explode and be done with it but he knew he couldn't do that. This was still Jason, his cousin, his friend. He couldn't do that to him or Piper.
"Holding back is gonna get you killed, y'know." A little voice said in the back of his head. Honestly, he had to agree with that statement. Jason was clearly trying to kill him and if he were to keep holding back, there would soon be an opening that the blonde-haired demigod would fully take advantage of.
"Get out from behind there!" Jason screamed out before his sword pierced through the rock, almost nicking Percy's cheek. Sending lightning through his sword and into the rock, the son of Jupiter watched in satisfaction as the boulder blew up into a million pieces and sent Percy once again flying backward. "Where's the great son of Poseidon at, huh?! Where's the Titan-Killer I've heard so many stories about?!"
"Jason, stop this. I don't want to hurt you." The black-haired demigod tried to plead but to no avail. Jason was fully in a trance-like rage hellbent on ending his cousin.
"Hahahaha, why not?! You've already hurt countless people, why not add just one more?" Jason laughed while he conjured a lightning bolt in his hand. Percy bit the inside of his cheek as he looked up, knowing that he would eventually have to do something or else risk the safety of the camp and its inhabitants. Watching in mild concern as the lightning bolt grew bigger and bigger, the son of Poseidon cursed as he realized he had nowhere left to hide. The entire forest practically looked like no man's land thanks to the consequences of their power.
Feeling that familiar painful tug in his stomach, Percy knew the only way he would survive this attack would be to combat it with his own power. Watching in slow motion as the blue bolt of lightning was released directly at him, he called upon his power to aid him once more. What he didn't realize in that moment, however, was that it wouldn't be the power of the sea that would answer his call. Watching his hand rise in front of his face as if it had a mind of its own, he couldn't help the shock make its way to his face once he saw tendrils of white lightning shoot out of it. Reeling back from the veracity of its power, causing him to plant his feet firmly into the ground, he aimed it at Jason's lightning. Not a moment later did the two opposing powers meet in a blazing light of glory, the strength of the two kinetic forces of energy literally causing a shockwave to be sent out across the entire valley.
Grunting in strain at his newfound power, Percy slowly began to inch his way forward, hoping that he had enough to offset Jason's lightning. It seemed, however, that Jason was doing the same, slowly drifting back to the ground as he continued to shoot blue lightning outward. The two cousins slowly began to meet in the middle, neither one managing to gain the upper hand over the other.
"Always…learning…new tricks, aren't ya!" Jason said with gritted teeth, releasing even more of his lightning. Percy didn't back down though and continued to counter Jason's power. Eventually, the two ended up mere inches from each other, their tendrils of lightning barely a foot away.
Feeling the tug in his gut practically burn his insides, Percy let out a shout of anger before releasing all the lightning he could muster. Jason's eyes widened as he watched his power be quickly pushed back until eventually, it hit him square in the chest, sending him flying backward in a sonic boom. Watching his cousin land in the mud like a rag doll, the son of Poseidon fell to a knee as exhaustion began to catch up to him.
"How the fuck did I do that?!" He wondered to himself excitedly. There was no way he should be able to do that. He was a son of Poseidon and as far as he knew, neither his father nor his sons had this type of power. Grunting as he felt a burning sensation in his right hand, he held it up and noticed that his fingertips were slightly charred much to his astonishment.
"What-What…is this?" Jason's voice broke his train of thought. Looking at the Roman demigod who was slowly getting back on his feet, he could see that Jason's body looked far worse than his hand. Half the flesh on his face was charred black, the smell reaching Percy's nose even from where he was. "Lightning is supposed to heal me?"
Percy got back up with Riptide in his hand as he slowly began to approach, making sure to stay on guard in case Jason decided to attack once more.
"WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!" Jason screamed out once more, falling to his knee as the agony of his seared flesh began to settle in. "Lightning heals. Lightning fucking heals me. What the fuck did you do to me?!" He asked, looking up at his cousin with hate in his eyes.
Percy didn't know how to respond because even he didn't know. It shouldn't have caused any damage. Lightning was to Jason as water was to him. Kneeling down, the son of Poseidon attempted to help but was quickly swatted away.
"Fucking get away!" Jason yelled out, outstretching his hand to push his cousin back. This singular motion caused Percy's entire body to stiffen involuntarily, his eyes quickly gaining a new look. A look of apprehension and…fear.
"..." Percy tried to speak but found that he couldn't. His throat, no, his entire body was tense. Rigid. He couldn't move, talk, blink, or even breathe. He was trapped inside of his own body and there was nothing he could do about it. Staring at Jason who was looking at his hand in confusion, he tried to get his attention. He knew what this was even though his cousin didn't. It was a power he knew all too well. A power that corrupted. A power that could kill with a mere thought. A power that no mere mortal should ever possess.
"I thought it wouldn't work." Jason suddenly chuckled, looking up from his hand. "I practiced and practiced but could never seem to find a way to do it. I couldn't even make a butterfly stop moving."
Percy grunted in strain as the lack of air began to take hold of him. He tried once more to get out of this rigor-mortis-like state but to no avail. Glaring up at Jason who picked up his golden sword off the ground, he watched as he slowly began to point it at his heart.
"The power to bend someone else's will. The same exact power you have." Jason mirthlessly smirked, tapping the son of Poseidon's chest piece armor. "How does it feel? How does it feel to have your own power turned against you? Let me tell you, it doesn't feel that good." He said, gesturing to the burnt skin he adorned on his face.
"Even then really, it's not your power, just similar. You use water to control a person but me…I control their electricity." The son of Jupiter confessed, kneeling down in front of Percy. "Everyone has electricity in their body. It's how we talk, move, and think. And thanks to you, Percy, you gave me the idea of how to control a person."
"Just didn't think I'd kill you with it. How ironic, huh?"
Jason once again aimed his sword at Percy's heart, preparing to stab. Even though he had the armor on and the curse of Achilles, they weren't truly impenetrable. He would soon find a flaw in their design and when he did, he'll finally be able to avenge all those that had been killed.
"This is for my child and Leo." The son of Jupiter's last words were before he attempted to drive his blade inward. Much to his dismay, however, it was his turn to have his body not listen to his command. Jason's entire body stood rigid and despite his best efforts, he couldn't move an inch. Glaring at Percy who was red-faced now due to the strain, the two cousins were at a deadlock as they kneeled in front of each other, using their inward power against one another.
Jason choked as the air in his lungs was slowly being squeezed out. Veins popped out of his forehead as the lack of blood flowing to his brain slowly began to set in, causing an agonizing pain that he couldn't express due to Percy's power over him. The son of Poseidon, however, was no better than his counterpart. He was in the same boat and it wouldn't be too long until he died of suffocation. The two men stayed that way for what felt like an eternity, slowly killing one another in the most agonizing way possible. They didn't know how much more they could take. Their vision was practically black and their head felt as if it were about to pop. Their hearts, on the verge of imploding, pounded inside their chest. Their desperate gasps of air sounding like a downed animal ready to die. Yet they carried on with this inhumane power of death. They didn't dare stop in fear of what would happen to them if they lost the internal battle.
Percy, despite Jason's appearance, still didn't want to kill him. He still considered his Roman counterpart a brother. He didn't have the heart to do that which was why he was banking on the fact that Jason would pass out before him. If he were to pass out before him, this battle would be over. If not, then Jason would fully capitalize on his moment of weakness and end him without a second thought. Willing even more blood to stop in his brain, the son of Poseidon foamed at the mouth as the strain from Jason's power, the strain from his own power, and his exhaustion, hit him like a freight train. He had exerted himself too much in this fight and was definitely feeling the consequences of it.
"Come on Jason, go to sleep!" Percy begged to himself, looking at his cousin who practically looked like a tomato with blood running down his nose. It hopefully wouldn't be too much longer until his eyes rolled upward but would it be too late? He could feel his consciousness slowly be dragged off into oblivion, scaring him that this could possibly be the end.
Thankfully, just before Percy's eyes were about to shut for good, the Fates seemed to ordain that it wasn't his time to pass on to the gates of the Underworld just yet. Like an angel flying down from Heaven, Thalia came crashing down behind Jason, bashing him upside the head with her shield that sent him down onto the ground like a sack of potatoes. It was as if a giant hand squeezing Percy's entire body in a death grip had suddenly released itself, causing him to give a loud gasp of air as he fell backward into the mud behind him. He heaved heavily for air as he laid still, not finding the energy to move after all that had just occurred.
"Percy, you okay?!" He could hear Thalia's voice call out to him, albeit extremely muffled because of the blood rushing through his ears. Lifting a tired arm, he gave her a thumbs up before letting it fall unceremoniously back into the mud. Staying that way for what felt like an hour, it wasn't until he heard the concerned cries from the campers rushing onto the scene that he attempted to stagger back on his feet.
"I got you." He heard a voice suddenly say from his left before a pair of big arms wrapped themselves around his shoulders.
"Thanks, Frank." Percy huffed out as he looked to his friend who was staring at Jason still lying passed out on the mud.
"Get them both to the infirmary now!" He could hear the voice of Will Solace yell out urgently. Without any hesitation, Frank did as he was told and practically dragged the son of Poseidon to the infirmary, Jason who was being carried on a stretcher in tow. Percy lazily attempted to not be placed in the infirmary, knowing that Will would have him out of commission for at least for a few days. When Frank placed him on that clean white bed with fluffy pillows, however, he was out like a light in an instant.
Sadly, it seemed the time for rest, at least for his mental state, would have to wait for another time, because once he opened his eyes, he realized he wasn't in the infirmary. In fact, he wasn't even in Alaska anymore. Feeling the familiar sensation of cool water caressing his skin and the scent of the ocean breeze, he realized where he was. Atlantis. Walking through the doors that led to the Atlantean throne room, he was surprised to find that his father wasn't there. Deciding to check other places that he had known his father to frequent, he was shocked to find that he wasn't there either. He knew the place wasn't a ghost town because he had passed a couple of guards along the way who didn't seem to notice his presence.
Looking out the window, he was astounded at what he saw out in the plains outside of the palace walls. Thousands upon thousands of Atlantean soldiers, from Mermen to Cyclops to monsters he had never even known existed before, were out there training for war. The very ocean floor shook from the sheer size of the army conducting war drills. That had to be where Dad was. Quickly walking outside, he eventually arrived at the scene where the first thing to greet him was Tyson and a Cyclops much larger than him were fighting in hand-to-hand combat. Much to Percy's amazement, Tyson was actually winning quite handily. It seemed forging wasn't all that he seemed to have learnt during his years down here. Looking at his half-brother in pride as he headlocked his opponent in submission, he walked past them in search of their father.
Weaving through towering sea creatures that shook the very Earth and Mermen that could skewer you with one jab, Percy was amazed to see such an army so vast and diverse. No wonder the seas were restless on the surface. Just the sheer number of the Atlantean army training underwater could cause the entire sea to churn and bubble. He had remembered Atalanta telling him that was the very thing she saw when he had rescued her in the Labyrinth.
Not knowing where to go and just wandering aimlessly, he had somehow stumbled upon his half-brother Triton who was expertly fending off a giant monster of a lobster hundreds of meters tall. The demigod felt his jaw go slack at the sheer size of the red lobster whose claws could destroy mountains with one swipe. The Prince of Atlantis, however, was holding up well against the towering giant, using his Trident to shoot beams of energy directly in its face and sending it crashing on top of a mountain. The force of the shockwave that emitted from the fall was enough to cause an Earthquake that could rival some of the record-setting ones on the surface.
"Big old bastard couldn't dodge an attack even if it was mailed to him." Triton grunted to himself as he turned away from the sight but quickly straightened as he noticed Percy's dream self standing in front of him. The demigod picked up on the fact that his brother saw him and gave a half-assed wave of his hand in greeting.
"I don't have time for this." The God sighed before pointing past the mountain where the Lobster was currently trying to get out of. "If you're looking for him, he's in the Mariana Trench. You'll find him there."
Nodding in thanks, the demigod drifted off in the direction his brother told him where to go. As he drifted further and further down the continental shelf, the water became a lot colder and denser, causing mild discomfort even to him, a son of Poseidon. He had never gone down this deep before and it seemed his body wasn't used to it. It didn't take long to reach the bottom which was pitch black. His ears popped loudly and his muscles felt strained from the immense amount of pressure placed on them. Wondering where his father could be down here, the green-eyed demigod began to explore the trench that was mostly empty beside the towering crevice walks on both sides of him.
"Why would he be down here?" Percy asked himself as drifted aimlessly. This place was desolate and held really no value for a God. After searching for a few more minutes, he was about to cut his losses and just return to Atlantis until he managed to catch a faint glimpse of a man sitting down in the middle of the trench. Taking a closer look, he noticed the familiar Hawian shirt and khaki pants his father was known to adorn.
"Dad?" He called out, drifting over to him. Getting closer to the God, he noticed that he looked to be meditating, something that he could never do considering his ADHD. It was impossible to sit still like that for minutes that felt like hours. "Dad?" He said once more, this time seeming to get his attention.
"A lot has happened since the last time we spoken." Poseidon said, not making a move to get up or even open his eyes.
"Yeah, you're not kidding." Percy replied with a huff.
"I see you have the curse of Achilles once again. I had noticed it the last time we had spoken but it seemed you wanted to keep it a secret."
"Yeah well, that's out the window now. We had a spy in camp that inadvertently revealed it. I'm sure Zeus already knows about it."
"Zeus has eyes and ears everywhere, Percy. Even down here his presence is felt. Yet I do the same in his domain on Olympus. That is just the nature of war." Poseidon replied easily, causing Percy to feel slightly annoyed.
"Well I'm getting sick of this war and it hasn't even fully begun yet."
"Oh but it has. This war started a long time ago, son. It was years in the making. One small thing led to another and another until eventually it all boiled over."
"Yet I'm to blame." Percy thought, remembering how Jason fully blamed him for all that had occurred.
"Oh of course they blame you. Zeus needs a face to point at so he can continue his tyrannical reign over Olympus. He needed a scapegoat to wage war against you and I." Poseidon replied as if it were the most simple thing in the world which Percy guessed to be true in his eyes. His father was a millennia-old God after all. He'd probably seen things like this countless times.
"And people actually believe that even after all I along with the others who left with me did for them."
"Both mortals and immortals alike have that in common. They love to forget things if it means to push their agenda. It's what makes the world go round, Percy. It'll never change even if we win this war."
That statement got Percy thinking for a moment. Winning the war…What would happen if they were to achieve that? What would change if there even was change considering what his father said. Mentally chiding himself, he knew there had to be a change to the way things worked on Olympus. What was the point of this war and all the deaths if change were not to occur? No, there will be. There had to be. He'll make sure of that even. Olympus needed it in order to bring on the next age. What it might be and how it might look, he didn't know. Only time would tell.
"I know that look. It's the same one I have when thinking about the future." His father chuckled, causing Percy to sigh as he kneeled down to sit beside him.
"I'm just thinking about how Olympus will look if we win this war. What would New York look like? Hell, the world?! It's a lot."
"Indeed it is, Would you like to hear my own two cents?" Poseidon asked to which Percy nodded his head. Looking out to the vast empty land that lay before them with a wistful look in his green eyes, the God pictured it with a smile on his face. "I would like to see Olympus be turned into a Republic."
"A Republic?!" Percy interrupted with a disbelieving tone.
"Yes, why is that so hard to believe?"
"Because like you said immortals don't change. They would never accept a change as big as that."
"Oh yes they would, son. Immortals don't like change, I agree with that, and whatever does bring change, they'll try to warp to have it serve their interest. But think of it this way, if we were to win this war and elect a King, eventually this will happen again. Someone else will stand up to tyranny like you have."
"And if we were to instate a Republic?" Percy asked.
"Then we could bring representation to all those that have been pushed down over the years. Minor Gods could finally have a voice. Demigods could finally have a voice. And of course Olympians as well. Everyone will have a say, Percy, can't you see? If we can make that happen, then maybe we won't have these needless wars for power."
Percy stayed silent as he thought it over. He wasn't knowledgeable in government but knew the basics at least thanks to Annabeth. He could see the logic behind a Republic. It wasn't perfect but it was a hell of a lot better than having one King reign over Olympus. Everyone could be represented and hold power thus eliminating the need of Minor Gods or Demigods to feel as if their needs didn't matter.
"You think the Olympians will get on board with this?"
"No, but they will eventually. This is needed, Percy. It has to be done if we truly want change." Poseidon answered seriously.
"Well we're gonna have to fight for it and it won't be easy. With Zeus and Polemus against us, we'll have to give it our all."
"You're damn righ…Wait, what'd you just say?" Poseidon's tone suddenly shifted seriously, causing Percy to look at him in concern. Thinking back on his words for a moment, he couldn't contain the urge to slap himself upside the head. He forgot to tell his father about Polemus, something he had been meaning to do for quite some time. With everything going on inside of camp, however, he just never found the opportunity. Now it seemed time to face the consequences of that
"I've been meaning to tell you. There's just been so much going on at camp." The demigod admitted.
"How do you know that name, Percy?! You shouldn't know that name. He's been dead for thousands of years. His name was wiped off every record." Poseidon's tone became frantic as he grabbed ahold of his son's shoulders. His eyes were wide and mouth dry as he desperately asked for more information. Percy reeled back in surprise at his father's open display of nervousness, something he had never seen so prevalent in him before.
"Dad, calm down!" He tried to plead but to no avail.
"TELL ME!" Poseidon suddenly shouted, causing Percy to reply back equally loud in frustration.
"He's back! He's fucking back, okay?!" He revealed, slapping his father's hands off of him. Poseidon reeled backward and looked as if Atlantis had just been destroyed. His entire demeanor changed from a God eager to take on a war for the betterment of the world, to that of a regular soldier told to charge out into certain death. The trench became deadly silent as Poseidon tried to process what he had just been told, staring with empty eyes outward to nothing, relieving those terrible memories of what Polemus had done all those years ago.
"I know what he did to you, Dad. I know what he did to the world…But I don't know who or what Polemus exactly is." The demigod admitted, hoping that Poseidon could fill him in. He only knew his name but that was it. The images on the cave walls he had seen and the dream he had about the Big Three and Polemus were great clues but that's all they were. Clues.
Poseidon didn't respond, causing Percy to shake him slightly out of his trance.
"Dad, please. I need you to tell me what he is. He wants in on this war and if we're gonna beat him, I need all the info I can get."
That seemed to reel his father back in, his eyes gaining a little bit of light back to them. Sighing heavily, Poseidon stood up and looked back toward the direction where Atlantis was.
"He's a demon of war born during the time of the first Titan War." The Sea God finally admitted, answering a long-sought-out question. "Born of fire and blood, he was the perfect embodiment of just how chaotic and destructive the war between father and us was."
"I saw paintings of him in a cave. It looked like the mortals were worshiping him?"
"The mortals tried to gain his favor so he could aid them in battle. What they didn't realize was that to gain his favor, they had to offer a lot more in sacrifices as compared to praying to us, the Gods. It was disgusting, son. Women, children, the elderly, no one was spared when it came to sacrifice. The ground soaked deep in blood just to gain the favor of Polemus." Poseidon said, his mouth turned upward in disgust as he remembered how many had died in the name of that pitiful demon.
"Ironically enough, those that did gain his favor in battle, didn't just get his blessing. No, he wanted to be different compared to us Gods. Polemus decided that those worthy enough to gain his blessing were turned into demons themselves. Great nation armies with thousands of soldiers, looking for glory in battle, turned to mere demonic puppets for their new lord in mere moments."
"I've run into those demons before. They were…something else." The green-eyed demigod said, remembering the elf, Elanor, who by all definitions could be the main villain in a horror movie.
"So he really is back. If you've seen his demonic pawns then he is really preparing to take on Olympus. There's no telling just how many subjects he has in his army already. He's been preparing for years, this I already know."
The father-son duo stayed silent for quite some time as they thought of ways to counter Polemus's plan. If what Poseidon said was true and the demon really had been planning this for years, it meant he was extremely prepared to take on Olympus in war. With an army that could very well reach the hundreds of thousands, Zeus's, Poseidon's and Percy's armies would be outnumbered.
"Do we hold off the invasion of Olympus then?" Percy asked, seeing that might be their only option. Maybe, if they were lucky, Polemus would attack Zeus's army and once one side or the other had won, sweep in and finish them off with his and the Atlantean army. It would save a lot of lives on their side and perhaps be quicker than a three-way war.
"No, Polemus is smart. He won't commit his troops until Zeus's army and ours meet on the battlefield. He's been patiently waiting for thousands of years, he won't mind waiting a few more if it means the assured destruction of Olympus." Poseidon replied truthfully, causing Percy's chest to squeeze rather uncomfortably. He knew that could be the case but to hear his father say it so assuredly, it really made him nervous. Just how many more deaths would be caused since Polemus is in the fight? How many more of his friends would die when taking on both Zeus's and his armies?
"Gods, I didn't think it would end up like this when I committed to this war. Atlantis hasn't been a part of war on this scale for a long time." Poseidon rubbed his brow anxiously as he looked at his son. "The only thing I supposed we could do is get more allies on our side. I've been convincing most of the minor sea deities and their subjects but haven't tried with the surface dwellers." He admitted.
"I got Apollo and Hephaestus on our side recently. Hephaestus is making ships for my army so we can sail to New York but I think we're out of luck on Apollo. I had a dream that he was chained to his throne on Olympus. Zeus knew he had met with me and Artemis."
"We still need more. We need the minor Gods not just of the sea but of the other domains to join forces with ours. We won't be able to take on Zeus's subjects allies even with a couple of Olympians on our side."
"I understand but there's not a lot I can do. I can't just walk back into the mainland United States without alerting Zeus of my presence." Percy said, knowing that Zeus would have him in chains in an instant if he entered that territory without any help from a God. The only reason he was able to last time when he was out searching for the hunters was because Artemis was there with her powers back. Poseidon shook his head at his son's answer, however.
"It's going to have to be you, Percy, to convince them. You're the only person they'll listen to because they know you care for them. You were the one who gave them a voice after the Second Titan War. You were the one who gave their children a chance at succeeding in our world. You are the only person that can truly convince them to fight this war with us."
How though Percy wondered to himself. How could he get the chance to talk to the minor Gods without risking being captured by Zeus? And how would he manage to have the time to do so all the while taking care of things back at camp? It was a lot to ask of him but his father was right. The Minor Gods would truly only listen and fight in this war if only he asked them to.
"I don't know how but I'll find a way to get my voice to them." Percy answered determinedly, causing a reassuring smile to form on his father's face.
"You always do, son, but you'll need to do it soon. Summer is approaching fast and the waters are soon to be thawed out. The invasion is coming. We need to be ready when it arrives."
"We will be. I'll make sure of that. And when we arrive in New York and Zeus sees us coming, he'll realize he should've never fucked with us." Percy gave his signature smirk, making Poseidon laugh in reply. His father's laughing face was the last thing he saw before his body began to forcibly remove itself from the water, insinuating that he would soon awaken.
Watching his son fade away out of sight like mist dissipating in the air, the Sea God sighed loudly as he eyed his infamous trident in his hand. The very weapon that skewered the demon in the skull but was unable to fully kill him. How he had returned to the world was beyond his comprehension but that didn't matter. All that mattered now was killing Polemus and defeating Zeus so a new age of peace could be born. With Percy at the helm and the army of Atlantis behind him, he had no doubt that it could be done. Remembering the demon's green eyes glaring into his just before he was "killed", he gripped the trident tightly in anger.
"I'll finish the job this time." Poseidon said, a furious ocean churning in his eyes as he teleported away back to his palace.