Chapter Title: Something Wicked This Way Comes
Alternative Chapter Title: Saving Private Yew, Part One
(A/N: Pardon the "Saving Private Ryan" reference in the alternative chapter title, but yeah. Here we are, the Williamsburg Bridge scene. For those of you expecting to see Michael's death in this two-parter, let's just say our mysterious Allies in the last chapter have other ideas, much to the shock of just about everyone involved in this. It's all normal Last Olympian until you know.. things beyond logic start happening everywhere.
Confused?
Just read the chapter!
As always, shoutouts to -JASONSGRACE and Imaginebooks since I am using their OCs in this chapter, as well as Morro11 and TsarinaTorment and TheTimeTraveler24 since I'm using some of their writing for this as well.
Also, this chapter does contain references drawn from TMNT 2003 Episodes 4 "More Worlds Than One" and 1 "Lap Of The Gods".)
- — - — - — - — -
Although no one noticed as everyone else other than Colton felt a sense of dread and horror creep over them at the revelation that the final battle was here, the flicker from brown to blood red and then back to brown in his eyes was an indication that the chain of events that would result in the Monster King returning once more to the mythological world - shaking up the lives of all the pantheons in the process - was finally underway now. All of this, of course, was unknown to Colton and the other demigods as they walked out of the Empire State Building at that particular moment, though others unknown to the demigods could read it in the skies at that moment.
Percy explained to Argus what had happened on Olympus and how the Gods wouldn't help them, and convinced Argus that he needed to return back to camp and guard it as best as he could. Argus nodded, before turning to Belle and Annabeth and drawing a circle in the air with his finger. Belle sighed while Annabeth nodded in response.
"Yes, I think it's time.." Annabeth stated, and Percy predictably was confused.
"For what?" he asked.
Argus looked around in the back of the van he had driven for a moment, and then brought out a bronze shield that looked like one of those they used for Capture The Flag, and passed it to Annabeth. When Annabeth set the shield on the ground, the reflection on the polished metal rippled and changed from the buildings of Manhattan to the Statue Of Liberty, which was no where close to them.
"Whoa.." Percy said, amazed. "A video shield, nice."
"One of Daedalus' ideas" Annabeth replied. "Belle and I had Beckendorf make this before-.." She trailed off and paused, glancing at Silena in guilt for a second before continuing. "Um, anyway, the shield bends sunlight or moonlight from anywhere in the world to create a reflection. You can literally see any target under the sun or moon, as long as natural light is touching it. Look."
All of the demigods, sans Colton and Kayla who simply looked up at the ominous storm slowly closing in from the distance - this storm was not Typhon, but they could tell it signaled something equally eventful, what it was they could not tell.. crowded around Annabeth as she concentrated. The image spun before it zoomed to the Central Park Zoo, then past Bloomingdale's on East Sixtieth, then onto Third Avenue.
Annabeth then waved her hand in front of the shield. Another scene of FDR Drive looking across the river at Lighthouse Park appeared in the reflection. "This will let us see what's going on across the city.." Annabeth said to Argus. "Thank you, Argus. Hopefully, we'll see you back at camp.. someday."
Argus and two of the Harpies got into the three Strawberry Vans and drove off, leaving the School Bus nearby just as thunder rumbled from lighting flashes in the distance. Needless to say, all of the demigods sans Colton and Kayla were caught by surprise.
A good few blocks away, Kelli observed the storm with unease and fear, knowing exactly what it was. "They said the Monster King would return in a storm.." she murmured.
Back with the demigods, confusion and bedlam reigned momentarily.
"What the hell?" Malcolm shouted. "Typhon isn't supposed to be anywhere close to here for another few days!"
"It isn't Typhon.." Colton shouted next, causing everyone except Kayla to turn to him. "It's something different.. what it is, I have no idea."
Percy then turned and whistled, and seconds later, Ms. O'Leary came bounding over with hog dog water all over her face since she had been snacking on the hot dogs at a hot dog stand a few moments ago.
"Hey, girl.." Percy said to the hellhound. "You remember Grover, right? The satyr we met in the park?"
"WOOF!"
"I need you to find him. Make sure he's still awake. We're going to need him. You got that? Find Grover!"
The hellhound licked Percy sloppily before bounding off to the north without a care in the world for the most part, considering that it caused a mortal who was sitting down to go to lying down on their back when Mrs. O'Leary brushed them.
Pollux, meanwhile, crouched down next to a sleeping Policeman as his twin brother looked on. "I don't get it. Why didn't we fall asleep too?" he asked. "Why just the mortals?"
Silena was the first to speak up. "This is a huge spell.." she replied. "The bigger the spell, the easier it is to resist. If you want to put millions of people to sleep, you've got to cast a very thin layer of magic. Putting demigods to sleep is much harder."
Percy and some of the other demigods looked at Silena in shock. "When did you learn so much about magic?" Percy asked in disbelief.
"I don't spend all my time on my wardrobe.." Silena replied.
"Percy, Belle.." Annabeth called. "You both better see this."
Colton felt his blood boiling when he saw what Annabeth was seeing.
The image was showing the Long Island Sound near La Guardia. A fleet of twelve speedboats was racing through the water towards the island of Manhattan, followed by two larger vessels. Every single boat was filled with demigods wearing full Greek armor, and the two larger ones hosting a mixture of demigods and monsters. The lead boat had a purple banner with a black scythe painted across it. The battle flag of Kronos.
"Scan the perimeter of the island.." Percy ordered. "..quick."
Annabeth nodded, and shifted the scene to south of the Long Island Sound. A Staten Island ferry racing through the waves near Ellis Island was packed with dracaenas and hellhounds. Swimming in front of the huge ship was a pod of telekhines, which made Colton growl in anger. They were the ones who had caused Percy to blow up last summer and get both him and Colton stranded on Calypso's Island for two weeks. Needless to say, Colton was definitely looking for payback.
The scene shifted a couple more times, showing enemy concentrations gathering on both the east and west sides of Manhattan on land, before arriving on the Jersey Shore right at the entrance to the Lincoln Tunnel. About a hundred different monsters were marching past the stopped traffic. There were Giants, Cyclopes, fire spitting dragons, and a Sherman tank from WWII pushing cars out of the way as it made its way through the tunnel.
"What's happening with the mortals outside Manhattan?" Percy asked. "Is the whole state asleep?"
Annabeth frowned. "I don't think so.." she replied. "..but it's strange. Manhattan is totally asleep. Then there's like a fifty mile radius around the island where time is running really, really slow. The closer you get to Manhattan, the slower it is."
She showed another scene now. It was a highway in New Jersey, with traffic being not as bad as it normally would have been since it was a Saturday evening. Unlike in Manhattan, the drivers were completely awake, but the cars were only going at about one mile per hour. Birds flew overhead in slow motion.
"Kronos.." Percy realized. "He's slowing time."
Katie noticed something and spoke up, even as she held Travis' hand. "Hecate might be helping.." she spoke. "Look at how all the cars are veering away from the Manhattan exits, like they're getting a subconscious message to turn back."
"Maybe. I don't know how.." Annabeth said, her frustration rising. "..but somehow they've surrounded Manhattan in layers of magic. The outside world might not even realize that something is wrong. Any mortals coming to Manhattan will slow do so much they won't know what's happening."
"Like flies in amber.." Jake added.
Annabeth nodded. "We shouldn't expect any help coming in.." she added, not even aware of the truckloads of reinforcements already present in and around Manhattan.
Both Annabeth and Colton could sense the growing fear and panic among the other gathered demigods, as could Percy. All three of them knew that it was only just them - oh how naive they all were - against an army of more than 300 monsters with lots of enemy demigods.. and probably thousands more having already gathered or enroute to Manhattan - complete with some Titans and minor Gods thrown into the mix as well. None of their training could have ever encompassed anything like this, and they knew it.. though Colton's came pretty close thanks to his unique style.
However, when it came to the fear and panic, Percy and Colton both did not get the memo, Percy especially since he was a native of this island. He faced the others, a look of determination on his face. "All right.." he told them. "We're going to hold Manhattan."
The others, except Colton who was at this point begging for the fight to start already - his Ares side becoming ever more present, looked at Percy with a mixture of disbelief, fear, shock, confusion, and skepticism. Some of them looked at Percy like he had grown a second head and some of them looked like they wanted to walk away now.
"Um.. Percy.." Silena said awkwardly. "Manhattan is huge."
"So? We are going to hold it" Percy replied. "We have to."
"He's right.." Annabeth agreed and Percy flashed her a relieved smile, glad that at least he had one person on his side. Kayla and Colton couldn't help, well Colton more than Kayla, but agree as well. "The gods of the wind should keep Kronos' forces away from Olympus by air, so he's trying a ground assault. We have to cut off the entrances to the island."
"They have boats.." Michael pointed out, but before Percy could respond, Colton stepped over to him with Kayla's hand in his, speaking as he went.
"True.. but Percy is the son of Poseidon.. I'm sure he can do something to seal off both rivers and prevent the enemy from using them.. besides.. there is only one other entrance to Olympus and it is in the Empire State Building right behind us.." Colton told Michael, and Michael when he was confronted with that logic, couldn't help but agree too.
"Indeed.." Percy added. "I'll think of something. We just need to guard the bridges and tunnels. Let's assume they'll try a midtown or downtown assault, at least on their first try. That would be the most direct way to the Empire State Building."
Percy then began issuing orders. "Michael, take the Apollo Cabin - and Colton as well as Austin - to the Williamsburg Bridge. Katie, Demeter's Cabin - plus Sherman and Travis - takes the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Grow thorn bushes and poison ivy in the tunnel. Sherman and Travis, support them in any way you can. Do whatever you have to do but - keep them out of there! Connor, take half of Hermes Cabin and cover the Manhattan Bridge. Clayton.." He was referring to the third eldest member of the Hermes Cabin here, since Chris much to his chagrin, was prevented from coming along by Clarisse. "..take the other half of Hermes Cabin, plus Castor and Pollux, and cover the Brooklyn Bridge and no stopping for looting or pillaging!"
"Awww!" the entire Hermes Cabin yelled, though Travis was grinning like an idiot and the best part.. Katie didn't mind at all, probably more because of the situation than anything else. Travis didn't notice at all.
"Silena.." Percy continued. "Take the Aphrodite crew to the Queens - Midtown tunnel."
"You can count on us Percy.." Silena replied sweetly, much to Annabeth's disgust. Percy turned his eyes to Jake. "The Holland Tunnel.. Jake - take Hephaestus Cabin there. Use Greek fire, set traps. Whatever you've got."
Jake grinned. "Gladly. We've got a score to settle. For Beckendorf!" His whole cabin roared in approval, hoisting their swords and hammers in the air.
Annabeth turned to Malcolm and opened her mouth before Percy could say anything else. "Hey Malcolm, take my siblings to the 59th Street Bridge and activate Plan Twenty Three along the way, just like I showed you. Hold that position."
Malcolm nodded, knowing full well what he had to do. "You got it!"
"I'll go with Percy, since Belle is probably most likely going to be with her siblings.." Annabeth stated, and Belle simply nodded. "Then we'll join you - or we'll go wherever we're needed."
Jake then remembered something. "That just leaves the Lincoln Tunnel though."
Percy cursed under his breath. Son of a bitch, he thought to himself. I forgot all about that one. Lincoln Tunnel was the most dangerous of them all, with over a hundred monsters and a tank rolling through it now. And no one could be spared to cover it. Until, a familiar voice rang out.
"How about you leave that one to us?"
Most of the demigods felt happy recognizing exactly who that voice belonged. They all turned to see none other than Thalia Grace and the Hunters Of Artemis. Needless to say, Colton was happy to see Thalia, Phoebe, and Hunter again as much as anyone else there, especially Kayla too.
"Thalia!" Annabeth cried, happy to see Thalia again after so long. The daughter of Zeus simply grinned.
"The Hunters Of Artemis, reporting for duty" Thalia simply replied, a grin on her face. Her eyes shifted to Colton. "Nice to see you too, Mr. Beast Of Camp Half Blood."
Colton just simply did a good old Michael Jordan shrug, even with a Whitworth in one hand and the MG42 in the other, surprising even the hunters themselves on him doing that.
Thalia came over to hug the campers, while Colton and Kayla simply walked up to Phoebe and Hunter, who came over to them and gave both of them hugs. The other hunters just watched, occasionally baring their teeth at any of the male campers if they got too close. Thalia did eventually also hug Colton and Kayla though.
"Where have you been the last year?" Percy asked as he pulled away from his hug with Thalia. "You've got, like, twice as many hunters now!"
Thalia just laughed. "Long, long story. I bet my adventures were more dangerous than yours, Jackson."
"Complete lie."
"We'll see.." Thalia said. "After this is over, you, Annabeth and me: cheeseburgers and fries at that hotel on West Fifty Sixth."
"Le Parker Meridien.." Percy stated. "You're on. And Thalia - thanks."
"Those monsters won't know what hit them.." Thalia commented. "Oh, and Colton.. keep Kayla safe please. Wouldn't want a possible candidate for a Hunter to die here."
Colton snorted. "In your fucking dreams, Grace.." he said back. "Like she's ever going to join the Hunters." Little did he realize that Kayla was kinda torn between him and the Hunters. She honestly kinda wanted both, but knew full well that she could only choose one or the other. Well, fate does have a way of changing things though.. and giving someone what they want.. but more on that down the road.
Thalia chuckled before shouting, "Hunters, move out!" She slapped her silver bracelet and Aegis, her shield with the golden head of Medusa inset sprung into full form. While Annabeth shuddered and several of the other campers backed away in fear, Colton and Kayla simply admired it. "Gods.. that is so cool.." Colton muttered as the Hunters left. Silently, he also added in his mind, Phoebe.. Hunter.. be careful.
"Thank the gods.." Annabeth said. "But if we don't blockade the rivers from those boats, guarding the bridges and tunnels will be pointless."
"You're right.." Percy replied, and Annabeth did her best to ignore the thrill those two words gave her.
Percy turned to face the rest of the camp, his shoulders squared in determination. "You are all the greatest heroes of this millennium.." he said, igniting fires of courage and bravery in many. "It doesn't matter how many monsters come at you. Fight bravely, and we will win." He raised his sword Riptide defiantly in the air and bellowed, "FOR OLYMPUS."
The other campers, including Colton, all raised their weapons in the air as well and repeated it.
"FOR OLYMPUS!"
And with that, the campers of Camp Half Blood scattered, heading for their particular locations to defend, while Percy headed for the rivers.
Unknown to them or the Hunters, the entire conversation had been heard by a figure standing by an open window in one of the upper floors of the nearby buildings. It was the figure in darkness elemental themed greek armor, his red eyes observing everything observantly. A patter of footsteps behind him caused the figure to turn. Stepping through the door into the apartment, the sleeping mortals too asleep to even notice at all, was one of his brothers, the Earth themed figure.
"All is ready. They are heading to defend the bridges and tunnels. Inform the others that the king and queen will be at the Williamsburg Bridge, as the Sibylline Books have foretold.." the dark one said to his brother. His brother nodded and left, as the dark one vanished into thin air like he was never there in the apartment at all.
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The Apollo Cabin, with Colton and Austin in tow, had set off towards the Williamsburg Bridge, heading along East Thirty Fourth Street before turning south along Park Avenue. Just as they reached Union Square, a figure stepped out. It was a pretty African American girl with curly hair like Medusa's, one that was very familiar to Michael.
"Monster!" he called out, and the Apollo campers and Austin all leveled their weapons at her, except Colton who had both hands full. But before they could fire, Colton and the girl's eyes met and believe me, he definitely recognized her.
"Colton?" the girl called out, leaving Michael and the rest of the Apollo Cabin as well as Austin confused. What the fuck? Michael thought to himself. How does this monster know Colton?
He was shocked even more with Colton said next, as that man decided.. well no use hiding shit from them anymore, might as well tell the rest of Kayla's siblings and camp eventually about her and what she knows.
"Kelli?" Colton said back. "Is that you?"
Kelli's hair simply caught on fire briefly, as did her skin turning white also briefly, just to confirm that it was her. Colton and Kayla both sighed in relief, much to the confusion of everyone around them. "Colton.." Michael asked, a bit suspicious. "..how do you know this.. empousai?"
"Yeah Colton.." Lee added. "When the fuck did this happen?"
"Language!" shouted Austin Lake.
Colton decided to come clean - if only a bit. "Long story.. I'll explain later.." he told them, moving on up to Kelli. Surprisingly for the other Apollo kids as well as Austin, when he did get up close, Kelli did not attack him at all. "Just know for now.. she spared my life when we first met in the labyrinth last year.. and she's on our side now. Now, let's get to the Williamsburg Bridge, y'all."
He took off once more, this time down Fourth Avenue headed towards Third Avenue, with Kayla and Kelli following along behind him. Austin and the rest of the Apollo Cabin exchanged nervous glances before reluctantly accepting that Kelli was on their side and once more started towards the Williamsburg Bridge.
- — - — - — - — -
Surprisingly, they had a few moments to set themselves up on the Williamsburg Bridge before enemy monsters and demigods appeared on the approaches to the bridge and eventually on the bridge itself. They set up halfway between Manhattan and the middle of the bridge, a vehicular collision that had occurred when the mortals were put to sleep - with a few definite fatalities much to the shock and horror of the group assigned to defend the bridge - provided a perfect place for Colton to set up the MG42.
Austin, Will, and Michael had set up a few boxes of ammo next and a couple dozen barrels next to him, giving Colton enough MG42 ammo and barrels to be able to fire for a few hours at most.
Kelli was the assistant MG42 operator with Colton this time around, after Colton gave her a basic crash course at being an assistant MG operator in the few moments the group had.. while Austin M., who had the Garand slung over his back and a few clips of ammo in a bag slung on his back too and had been taught how to use the Whitworth, acted as the sniper.
The rest of the Apollo kids, including Kayla and Caeli who as before kept close to their boyfriends, took up positions on either side of the makeshift MG position, which conveniently happened to be in the middle of the road. Then, they waited.. which was only two minutes before monsters and enemy demigods appeared, Colton started blazing away with the MG42 as Austin M. fired the Whitworth, and the Apollo kids started fighting the enemy too, and the fight was on. Aruna and Aurora fought side by side, both of them along with Michael, Kayla and Caeli using their bows to deadly effect.
"Since when did you become a machine gunner?" Kelli asked loudly as the roar of battle filled the air.
"January of last year. You should have seen me when Luke's army came out of the labyrinth in July.." Colton shouted back as he was having a field day out on the bridge, cutting down monsters and demigods alike. The sun had set by the time the clash had opened, due to a few hours passing between the time the campers had entered Manhattan to now, so as flames lit the gathering darkness around the city while the storm that wasn't Typhon slowly began to hang over the city, the sounds of battle in multiple sectors echoed all around, to everyone except the mortals near or in the city, affected as they were by the layers of magic in place on the embattled city.
Alice, Victoria, Lee, and a few of the other demigods stayed a little bit in front of the range slaughtering group in the middle on the flanks, using swords and other weapons to deal with those demigods and monsters that got too close on either end.
Welcome to hell, Will's mine says inside him as the carnage continues. It seems like everything is saying that to him, even though they aren't. From the hellhounds that howl as they charge forward, only to be cut to pieces by arrows and bullets that make up for the fact that there is way more monsters than they can fire arrows at alone since there are not enough archers and almost no one to defend them so they have to defend themselves there; the dracaenae that seemingly scream out loud demanding blood; the enemy demigods that wail, scream, cry and beg for their mothers as they lay there dying.. some of Will's cabin mates get wounded too, though thankfully.. their wounds are minor for the most part.
For a while, it seemed that the Apollo campers with the assistance of Colton, Austin, and Kelli were getting the upper hand as lots of bodies began to pile up near the crest of the road on the Williamsburg Bridge, but everything now changes as a loud roar echoes through the buildings on the Brooklyn side of the bridge just a few moments after the first wave survivors break off their attack and fall back over the rise and down the opposite side, leaving wounded to scream in agony as they die and the defenders to momentarily gaze around at the carnage as Williamsburg Bridge now looks like a war zone.
"Gearing up for another assault, it seems.." Colton said grimly, not doubt convinced of it by the ominous roar from the other side. He was right.
Moments later, a fresh wave led by none other than Minotaur himself, came over the rise. It wasn't the Minotaur itself that was the problem, it was the fact that a few Telekhines also came over the rise, having been prevented from making landfall on Manhattan thanks to Percy Jackson bribing the Hudson River Spirit and the East River Spirits to block off both rivers.
Michael called Annabeth on a phone he swiped from one of the mortals nearby, and frantically requested assistance. Annabeth told him to hold on and that she was coming with Percy. Meanwhile, Colton essentially riddled the Minotaur with bullets from the MG42, the big guy finally having had enough and toppling over dead, much to the shock of virtually everyone there. Colton himself was more shocked than others. He personally had blinked twice upon delivering the kill shot to Kampê summer, and here, he had just shot the Minotaur dead with bullets. Un-fucking-believable dude, he thought to himself as the fight continued.
The telekhines resisted the bullets fiercely, so Colton instead switched to cutting down the dracaenae shield wall locked with spears bristling over the top and the rest of the second wave marching casually behind them. They were still holding for now, but with weight of numbers, and these Telekhines pressing down on them, inevitably the Apollo group would eventually have to fall back.
Just then, one of the more imposing Telekhines noticed something behind the Apollo Camp. It picked up a nearby limousine with its bare hands and chucked it into the air.
"Blackjack, dive!" shouted the familiar voice of Percy, giving renewed hope to the defenders. Annabeth and Percy had arrived to the fight. Blackjack dropped off Percy and Annabeth behind the Apollo group and soared off again as soon as the feet of those two had touched the ground, stating just out of reach of the hurling abilities of the Telekhines.
Michael ran up to them, leaving the group momentarily. "Glad you could join us.." he told them, even as the clattering of Colton's MG42 rang above the roar of combat. While he didn't look too great due to soot covering his face and one of his arms sporting a heavy bandage done by Will in the heat of combat, the 4' 6" tall Apollo camper sported a massive smile on his face, like seeing the duo of Percy and Annabeth had made his day. "Where are the other reinforcements?"
"For now, we're it.." Percy said grimly.
The smile slipped from Michael's face. "Then we're dead.." he said to them. "..thanks to those Telekhines coming at us."
Percy nodded and said, "Don't worry. I'll take care of them. You still have your flying chariot?"
Michael shrugged his head. "Nah. We left it back at camp.." he replied. "I told Clarisse she could have it. Whatever, you know? Not worth fighting over it any more now. But she said it was too late. We'd insulted her honor for the last time or some stupid thing along those lines."
"At least you tried.." Percy said back. Annabeth gazed at the fight, the Telekhines being stunned for the moment by Austin M. taking potshots at them with the Whitworth and killing some of them left and right. Michael simply shrugged.
"Yeah, well.." he said. "..I called her some names when she still wouldn't fight. I doubt that helped. But help us deal with those Telekhines, because here come the uglies!"
And with that, Michael ran back towards the fight, drawing an arrow and shooting it towards the enemy, barely seeming to aim. Percy and Annabeth ran up too. Percy raised his hand and the East River erupted to the right of the Bridge, with a fist shaped stream of water rising up out of the river, smacking into all of the Telekhines at once and sending them off over the other side of the bridge down into the East River, where they shortly thereafter met their fates at the hands of the East River Spirits.
Colton looked back at Percy and flashed a smile. That definitely helped in his opinion, though he had to stop firing momentarily as Percy came up, intending to kill Kelli when he recognized her.
"WHOA.. WHOA.. PERCY, chill!" Colton shouted, putting his hand in front of Kelli as she kinda of cowered in fright.
"What. Is. She. Doing. Here?" Percy growled, understandably upset after seeing the Empousai that tried to kill him last summer at Goode here in Manhattan once more.
"Long story.." Colton said to him. "..we'll explain after this is over. Just know that she's on our side now." Even as the roar raged around, Colton did not let down his hand. Percy looked at Kelli skeptically for a couple of moments and then relented. "Fine.." he said reluctantly, before jogging further forward into the fight on the right side of the bridge. Colton and Kelli then returned to firing.
"You think they're going to take it well when we tell them about what I know?" Kelli asked worriedly.
"I honestly have no thoughts of wishful thinking when I think about it.." Colton grimly replied, filling Kelli's heart with dread that was momentarily alleviated by Percy himself. He had definitely been given something while he was gone, Colton noticed, because Percy tore through the monsters and demigods in front of them like they were butter being cut by a knife, as if the man was on steroids. Javelins and arrows thrown or shot at him simply bounced off of him like a steel wall if he didn't deflect them. He was moving so fast that Colton had to carefully aim the MG42 at targets before he fired to avoid hitting Percy. It was then that it hit him as to what had happened.
Son of a bitch, he thought to himself. Percy must gotten the curse of Achilles from the River Styx. Only question is, where's his weak spot?
For now, that answer eluded him because for the second time, the attacking monsters and demigods decided that enough was enough and fell back over the crest of the rise, but unlike last time, they were back even quicker than last time, led by a group of thirty to forty demigods in battle armor sitting astride skeletal horses, with one of them holding the battle flag of Kronos.
The lead horseman, however, caused a sense of fear to creep over all of the demigods and Kelli who opposed this latest wave on the Williamsburg Bridge. Because they all - for the most part - would have recognized this figure anywhere. When the figure pulled off his helmet, revealing his glowing gold eyes, it confirmed everyone's fears.
Staring down at them was Luke Castellan, with Kronos currently in control of Luke's body. The demigods, with Percy and Annabeth out in front of them, faltered where they stood, having not moved an inch at all. Unease raised among them, and then the enemy demigods drew their swords and charged. Colton shook off the shock first, and opened fire, downing several riders in a matter of seconds. But the skeletal horses were fearless, charging even as Percy twirled his sword at them.
Annabeth charged into the melee, with Michael doing the same.. both of them reaching Percy just as the horsemen crashed upon them, Kronos remaining behind even as the close quarters fight unfolded. Percy, Michael, and Annabeth fought fiercely, destroying demigods and horses left and right while trying not to kill the demigods, aided by fire from the archers of the Apollo Cabin as well as Colton and Austin M., both of whom picked off riders left and right if they strayed out too far. After the three slashed the legs of several of the horses causing them to disintegrate, the demigods decided to dismount and fight them on foot. Annabeth used her shield to smash some of their helmets in, knocking some of them unconscious, while Percy was kicking them over so they could trip the demigods coming in behind them. Michael was in the back, dealing with any that got past the duo in front of him to prevent the enemy demigods from getting anywhere close to his siblings. Blackjack and another pegasi even returned to swoop in and distract the attackers and keep them off balance. Everything was going fine..
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
..until one of the enemy demigods, a boy of Japanese descent about sixteen or seventeen years old with a thin build, glossy black hair, and a black eye patch over his left eye.. stabbed Annabeth in the shoulder with a knife that Colton went wide eyed at, as did Kelli. Both of them could tell that it was poisoned. Screams of shock and horror went up from the other Apollo campers, including Kayla.
"ANNABETH!"
Pain shot through Annabeth's body and she screamed, as it felt like fire was coursing through her veins. She felt herself getting weaker by the second. Percy yelled her name, but to Annabeth, it felt like he was saying it from very far away. She fell to the ground, clutching her arm, with pain nearly overwhelming her senses.. black spots dancing in front of her eyes as she also had the urge to vomit.
Percy stepped over her, and the demigod who stabbed Annabeth fell flat on his back after Percy angrily slammed his sword hilt into his face in rage.
"GET BACK!" Percy yelled, fear crackling in his voice. Annabeth wondered why he was so scared. All the while, more monsters and demigods poured over the rise, the sounds of battle echoing all around once more. "NO ONE TOUCHES HER!"
"Interesting.." Kronos said, as he rode up to them, still on his skeletal horse in an impressive set of golden armor, scythe in hand. Annabeth tried to focus her gaze on him, but it felt like she was looking through a red haze, the pain rippling through her body and causing her eyes to waver. But she could still see Percy slashing at enemies as Kronos approached them. A smug smile lay on the lips of Kronos, a very smug smile indeed lay there.
"Bravely fought, Percy Jackson.." Kronos said smugly. "But it's time to surrender, or the girl dies."
Colton wanted to help, but the monsters and demigods kept coming. So there he stayed, blazing away with the MG42 with Kelli helping as the assistant MG while Austin sniped away with the Whitworth and Michael, Kayla, Caeli and the rest of the Apollo Cabin kept fighting.
"Percy, don't" Annabeth groaned. She could feel her senses leaving her as pain swarmed her brain. Even so, she could still focus enough to know that Percy could not surrender. There was no way she was going to let him give up because of her.
Percy looked down at Annabeth, fear present on his face. Then he reached down and grabbed her, propping her up even as she gritted her teeth against the pain. He was about to call for Blackjack.. but..
HHHHHRRRRRROOOOOOOGGGGGGGGGGAAA!
(A/N: I don't know what noise a Cyclopes makes when it roars, but it don't matter much.)
A hideous sounding roar echoed through the area, causing all combatants on the Williamsburg Bridge to freeze in fear.
"Uh.. what was that?" the Japanese looking dude who stabbed Annabeth asked nervously. Everyone looked around, ceasing the fight for now as they tried to find the source.
The sound of rumbling could be heard as Kronos muttered in disbelief, "I sense.. a very familiar presence.."
Suddenly, one of the demigods on the bridge shouted, "Look!" and everyone's eyes turned towards the north side of the bridge, just in time to see a tall, 22 ft wide series of earthen towers, one behind the other starting right at the edge of the bridge with flat tops rise up out of the East River, one after another as the Williamsburg Bridge shook a bit. A large, 2 ft outline of a box rose at the end of the series, just big enough to house one more tower, and then that tower came up.. and as it did, a malevolent laugh filled the air, making even Kronos tremble.
Percy spared a glance at Luke/Kronos, and even he could see the fear in his eyes. But when Annabeth and Kayla - as well as somehow every other female on the bridge, including Kelli, screamed in absolute terror, Percy's eyes turned back - and he could understood why they all screamed. About 2 football fields away from the bridge on top of the last tower to rise out of the East River..
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..was a twelve foot tall Cyclopes that was literally on fire, or to be accurate, the monster's whole body was made of fire for the most part, with Stygian armor on top of it, and a three toed symbol in the middle through both the fire and the armor, revealing its heart to be actual lava.
"Hahahaahaha.. fools.." the monster cackled. "..they foretold the return of the Monster King and Queen.. and now they think they can stop it?! The Monster King and Queen cannot be stopped.."
It growled and breathed a long stick of fire out of its mouth, which its fiery hands then gripped the lower end of it as if it was a sword. Colton was scared, confused, and didn't know what to think. All he could think was, what the fuck is happening here? Why is this thing talking about me and Kayla?
"All who would stand in their way.. WILL PERISH!"
The fiery stick then molded and shaped itself into what it really was. It appeared to be an even larger version of the Seven Branched Sword that was a ceremonial sword of the Japanese during the Yamato era in the past, except this sword featured Greek hilt and Greek sword characteristics on downward from where the blade met the hilt, and with 8 branch-like protrusions instead of six protruding out from the central blade, all of them sharpened to extremely sharpened edges. The blade had also been sharpened incredibly sharp too, and while the hilt on down was made out of celestial bronze, the material for the blade was the same material used for the blade of Kronos' scythe. Colton's eyes went absolutely wide at the sight of it, as did Percy and Kronos too.
As if all this wasn't enough, screams from others on the nearby bridges and other areas of Manhattan both north and south of the Williamsburg Bridge made it very clear that similar things were happening at other points across Manhattan, with campers, monsters, and enemy demigods alike stunned and terrified at the various creatures appearing nearby.
(A/N: There is a picture on both the Wattpad and Archive Of Our Own versions of this chapter you can look at if you want to see what the sword looks like. The picture is of a replica of the Seven Branched Sword in Seoul, South Korea. Not my picture, but included it here to show what this sword looks like in reality so you can get an idea of how an enlarged version.. in the hands of a flaming Cyclopes, mind you.. might look.)
The flaming, massive sword wielding Cyclopes approached the bridge on the earthen walkway that had risen out of the water, and as if this was an animated episode, it growled as it approached before breathing fire and the entire screen in front of you getting covered in flames before turning black.
To be continued..
(A/N: A very long chapter, I know. Stay tuned!)