Chapter Twenty- One (Blooming Gloom)
The only thing worse to a warrior than dying a horrific death is witnessing the horrific death of a comrade…
A shrill screech tore through the air.
The blinding flash of light which illuminated the area only served to enhance the horrific shuddering of the earth that quickly followed.
"That's the signal! Everyone move!" Chrysilla cried out, urging the rest of the demigods around her to act. Tassos responded first, throwing himself onto the floor to feel the earth at the palm of his hands.
"Behind the rock is the clearest path!" Zina called out as she swooped low to the son of Demeter. Tassos barely nodded, letting his focus shift back to the pull of the seeds on the ground. He had slipped the seeds to the daughter of Bia in the train for her to scatter as she flew; all at the behest of Chrysilla.
"We'll help out!" Gerald said as he pulled his flute out. The three Satyrs started playing their woodland magic as Tassos called upon the seeds to grow.
The shadows of the trees near the nature entities at work drew longer. Beady red eyes peered outwards before the rest of the massive forms were spewed from the shadows. A sudden gust of wind spiralled around Tassos and the Satyrs, blasting the Hellhounds back. Oliver fell to a knee as he forced the winds around him to continue to shield them.
"Get that boulder out of the way, now!" Adrian cried before dropping to his stomach to avoid a thrusted spear. Marc's axe tore through the Telkhine's neck before he barrelled the decapitated creature to the side. He bent his knees, slowing his stride for a moment, to grab Adrian by the back of his armour and pull him to his feet.
The slight delay allowed Chris to reach the boulder first. He let out a feral cry as his war hammer crashed into the side of the rock. The ball of earth shattered upon impact, lethally spraying its shards towards the growing monster army.
A thin pathway had begun to form beyond the boulder. There were a few monsters that had figured out their plan and had managed to slip their way to bar their path. Lily baulked at the sight of them, having already begun bolting past the erupting boulder with a new demigod in her hands. Shaquille was a step behind her, cursing as he slammed his left shoulder into a growing tree to avoid the daughter of Hermes. Snarling in spite of the pain, he raised his right hand at the small group of monsters before him.
Kerwin held less regard for Lily. He pushed the girl to the side, at least taking care to ensure her back hit the tree instead of the demigod in her arms. His sister trailed close behind him, but their weapons met no resistance as the monsters before them slumped unceremoniously to the floor. They barely paused to readjust the trajectory of their blades before they started slaying the sleeping creatures.
Another shrill screech rang out overhead as the world was bathed in light.
Marc heaved the unconscious and pale Shaquille over his shoulder, dragging the defiant Cirius with him. The Satyr was adamant that he stayed and fought beside the son of Poseidon, unwilling to leave him to the monsters despite their plans.
"He's not the one you should be worried about there."
No sooner than the words left the son of Ares' mouth did thunder rumble overhead. The soft pattering of rain descended upon the battlefield, sending chills through all combatants.
"Rock!" Helen cried out, catching Marc's attention. The son of Ares grunted in acknowledgement, throwing the Satyr past Adrastea, who had come back to the mouth of the path. Marc took greater care with Shaquille, launching him at the approaching Kerwin before twisting to face the rock.
Adrastea stepped beside him as Oliver cried out behind them. A swell of air slowed the descent of the boulder, but it couldn't halt it.
"Get your ass over here, Chrysilla!" Adrastea called out to the daughter of Athena. She had chosen to be the rear guard to defend against the trailing monsters. She peered over her shoulder for a moment, after her blade granted her a moment of respite, before tucking behind her shield once more.
"I'll get to Percy until we can get a signal to Zina!" Chrysilla cried out, trying to get the siblings to leave her.
The rock fell, much more slowly, over the children of Ares. Adrastea stepped towards Chrysilla before booting Marc back towards the, again, approaching Kerwin.
"I'll get her there safely."
Adrastea's words barely caught Marc's ears before the massive rock tore through the trees above and barred their path.
Third Person
The air thrummed around Zina.
Her powerful wings battered the winds under her as the latent power in the air lingered. Her silver-grey eyes peered over the battlefield, small beads of sweat starting to form as the battle drew on. She scanned along the lengths of the ruined road. Asphalt was splayed and scattered as the gouged earth spread its opened maw threateningly. Her eyes lingered into the abyss for a moment before she continued to scan the areas on either side of the path Tassos and the Satyrs had erected. The massive wall of trees and vegetation, mingling together still stood strong.
But there was something out of place between them.
Her wings responded to her command and curled against her back. Her eyes narrowed, straining as her body closed the distance between the glinting trees and herself.
"What the fuck?!" The daughter of Bia cried; an arm raised as a thin beam of light sizzled a path through the air. A Cyclops groaned in agony as the hot beam of light tore through its stomach.
Adrastea was quick to capitalise on the suffering of the creature. She danced past the falling club of the monster, letting her own weapon slide through the waist of the Cyclops. The daughter of Ares crouched low, taking a step back as she heard the pulling of a bowstring. Quicker than she could react, a shield sprouted in front of her face.
The sound of the arrowhead clashing against the face of the shield wasn't enough for the daughter of Athena. She slipped her left arm from the straps, tossing the shield up slightly before rolling under her bulwark. Another arrow fizzed over the top of her head, crashing into the shield as she rose into a sprint. The Dracaena scrambled back, its next arrow slipping through its fingers.
Chrysilla gave the creature no respite.
A discarded arrow was in her free hand before the creature could position its own. Tossing the projectile, Chrysilla rolled to the side. The Dracaena misfired its shot as it shifted away from the weak throw of the daughter of Athena. Though it could do little about the sword which lodged itself in its head a moment later.
"A little warning would be nice."
Chrysilla smiled as she caught her shield from the direction of Adrastea. "You're a big girl, you can manage."
Adrastea rolled her eyes at her friend, despite the smile forming on her lips.
The sound of wings slapping the air harshly caught the attention of the two girls.
"Why the fuck are you two here?"
Zina landed on her leg, slightly unsteadily as she pushed against a tree. The branch withered under her touch, her skin gaining a little more colour as she steadied herself.
"A massive boulder blocked our path. We had nowhere else to go but to Percy."
Zina shook her head at Adrastea's comment.
"Not a good idea. The monster that threw that rock was the same leader from the farm."
Adrastea paled a little at the mention of the creature. Chrysilla threw a cautious gaze at the girl before turning back to Zina. "The Cyclops?"
The daughter of Bia nodded. "Percy engaged it as soon as he saw the rock being thrown. It's definitely powerful because it kept Percy preoccupied enough for me to have to obliterate the road."
Chrysilla raised an eyebrow, staring back at the other end of the path. "Then we should go and help him."
"Or we could escape through there…"
Zina and Chrysilla stared out at where Adrastea was pointing. There was a small gap formed by the withered tree. The split earth stared back at the tree, lulling them into the depths of the unknown.
"I'd have to fly you over that. I was planning to go help Percy after I was sure you guys got across safely…"
"Then you saw us." Chrysilla pointed out. Zina nodded, her eyes shifting back to Adrastea. The daughter of Ares was drawing in deep breaths to compose herself.
"Was it really that bad?"
Adrastea's eyes snapped to Zina. The daughter of Bia was startled by the hollowness of the twin brown orbs peering at her. The larger girl blinked suddenly, her eyes coming back to life as she nodded.
"I never faced any deity in any of the Wars. Just demigods and monsters. The Big Three and their children are fucking insane for what they're willing to stand up against…"
The trees rustled as the winds began picking up around them. Their helms caught their hair behind their back as the winds sucked the strands into their current.
"I'll blow the rock to shit, and you guys can go to the others. I'll go and prove that I'm just as crazy and help Percy out like we planned."
Adrastea shook her head resolutely. "I can't back down again. Cassandra will definitely end up getting help for the others, but what about Percy in that time? I don't want to keep sitting back while he puts his life on the line for us over and over again. It shouldn't be like this."
Zina stared at Adrastea for a moment, nodding to the girl with a smile on her face. The pair turned to Chrysilla, only to find her missing. Their heads shrivelled in a frenzied search, only to find the girl already jogging towards the heart of the brewing storm.
Adrastea huffed as she let Zina wrap her arms around her waist, "Remind me to never fall in love."
The winds whipped around in a vicious dance around the body of Percy.
The cool whips of air parted only to give room to the flash of bronze which sprayed blood into the spinning winds. Percy's rampage stemmed the monsters' flow, battering them away from the path created by Tassos as he basked in the freedom.
His freedom to create destruction.
His green eyes flickered up as the droplets of water from the sky parted. A massive rock sailed overhead before he could call for the water to stop it. Percy narrowed his eyes, letting the winds enhance his acceleration towards the creature responsible for the boulder.
"I'll admit, brother." A gigantic Cyclops, rivalling the height of Polyphemus, stood before the leader of the Vanguard. "That child of Bia of yours is something else. She took me out of the fight for a while."
The humongous Cyclops cast a humourless grin down at the stony-faced Percy. Another chunk of earth crackled in its grip, sending a spray of debris into Percy's personal storm. Its massive eye, an odd blend of brown and grey, calculated Percy's every movement to deflect the falling rocks. Its arm cocked back in an instant, the formed ball of earth tearing through the rainy sky before Percy's eyes could open from their momentary blink.
Percy's green eyes narrowed at the creature as they opened. He held the firm gaze of the Cyclops as the water responded. Tendrils sprung up from the damp forest floor as they formed and shot down from the rain in the air. Four thick whips of water spiralled as they chased the rock, managing just the faintest lick at its edges but nothing more. The chunk of earth escaped their grasp.
An awful sound emanated from the lips of the Cyclops. Its shoulders shivered as its morbid humour formulated into a bloodcurdling noise.
"I wonder which of your little group that boulder will crush…"
The rock was caught suddenly in a wall of water formed at the edge of the storm. The stilling of the massive chunk of earth caught the Cyclops' attention, earning a small frown from the giant being. Its eye widened as it bent its back leg low, raising its arms to protect its face. The four tendrils of water had cooled into ice and slammed into each of its limbs.
Percy's eyes widened slightly at the sight of the blood which was caught in his spiralling winds. A snarl formed on his lips as he pushed his left hand towards the creature. The wall of water responded, slapping the rock back to its sender.
The Cyclops peeked out from his breached defences and took a staggered step to its left. As he moved, he pulled his right hand back with a grunt.
Percy immediately retreated at the sight of the giant's movement.
The rock connected with the formed fist of the Cyclops. A blast of air shot out the back of the rock, parting the forming storm cloud in the sky before the chunk of earth was obliterated.
Percy spun on his heels, his sword flickering out to split an incoming piece of earth in half. The proximity of the rocks on either side dispelled his storm. His eyes widened in shock as a heavy, clawed, paw slammed onto the armour on his left thigh. His leg buckled inward; his eyes swirled with power as they met with red orbs. The Hellhound tried to slink back into the shadow of the rock to Percy's left but Riptide severed its head in a quick arc. Another paw slammed into Percy's back, pushing him against the rock he faced. His head clashed against the face of the rock as a thick spear of ice chased the Hellhound into its own shadow. The creature yelped as it was spat out of the shadow of a tree a few hundred yards away.
The Cyclops' hand slammed into the side of the rock Percy had been forced against, hoping to propel the son of Poseidon into the sky. A thin line formed against its wrist as it launched the half of a rock into the air. It stared down at its wrist in shock at the sight of its own blood before it buckled under its weight. Looking down it saw Percy dancing around the base of its feet, his sword flashing in a spray of its own blood and shredded flesh.
Percy grinned as the Cyclops fell to its knees, no longer able to stand without its calf muscles intact. He prepared his blade to slide behind the back of its knees when he felt a heavy blow to his back. Percy stumbled forward, his eyebrow scrunching as he pivoted. A Dracaena emerged from the treeline, a Hellhound at her side. Percy raised an eyebrow at the sight, throwing a cautious glance over his shoulder. He groaned as he found the Cyclops missing.
The son of Poseidon shook himself out of his dismay, catching the Dracaena in a thin layer of water before crushing it within its watery cocoon. He shifted his eyes to the Hellhound but only caught sight of its tail tucked between its legs as it disappeared into the shadows of a tree.
A shadow loomed over Percy, causing him to twist his body quickly. He steeled himself as he found the Cyclops before him once more, all traces of injury gone. The son of Poseidon slid on the mud as he tried to put some distance between them. His eyes never left the Cyclops as he righted his footing. His eyes scanned the area around him before he nodded. The water in the floor was pulled up, forming thin spikes that shot upward to the groin of the Cyclops.
The creature paid them little mind as he focused on the son of Poseidon racing underneath him. He raised a leg, trying to avoid his calf being decimated again.
"A trick can only work once, Perseus!" The creature spat out as the three Hellhounds jumped out of the Cyclops' shadow.
Percy slammed some of the water he drew to himself onto the floor before him. Slipping into a baseball slide, he let the wet floor freeze over. The son of Poseidon slid under the three hounds, pulling the ice behind him into spikes to kill the monsters. He pushed himself to his feet, spinning as called for the original spikes of water he shot up at the Cyclops. Having done nothing but splash against the unsettling loin cloth of the creature, it had been easily played off as a distraction.
A coy grin formed on Percy's face as the water on either side of the Cyclops' inner thighs turned to ice. The thin razor-like blades responded to the clapping motion of the son of Poseidon, eagerly ripping through the gonads of the Cyclops to reunite.
The Cyclops roared in agony, sinking to its knees as its hands flickered to its severed crotch. Percy's grin faded slightly as he caught another glimpse of the monster's blood but pushed it to the side as he turned to Tassos' path. He had his doubts about the monster, and he needed to relay a change of plans to Zina.
"You little shit!" The Cyclops cried out.
Percy felt a pressure at his heel before he was dragged into his own shadow. His eyes flickered around, Riptide on standby to avoid being lost in the shadows. The moment they burst into the light; the sword slid into the skull of the Hellhound.
Percy's eyes quickly scanned the area around him to figure out where he had been transported. He sighed as he saw the earth a few feet below him and a massive hand above him, forming the shadow he had been spit from. His eyes followed the arm to find the raging eye of the Cyclops. The creature's body began flickering as it formed a fist with its free hand. Percy's eyes widened at the sight before he forced them to close as tightly as they could, despite the fist barrelling through the air towards him.
"I was hoping I could face you without revealing the truth, boy. But it seems the tales of your name in the pit are far from false." The monster roared as its body was bathed in a flash of light. The creature's fist connected with the son of Poseidon, as he bellowed at his target.
"Feel the wrath of the new God of Monsters!"
Percy
I pulled as much water from the air as I could in front of me.
My arms formed a diagonal cross in front of my chest as my knees tucked in. I barely managed to get my chin against my chest as the massive fist slammed into the water before me. I felt it steaming as the blazing heat of the fist slammed the water particles into my body. I forced the steam to shift back into water, barely keeping the water layer in front of me before I was blasted back into the sky.
The brilliant white stung my retinas even despite my eyes being closed, disorienting me as I spun through the air.
"Hand!"
I barely heard through the whipping winds and the dull pain in my skull. I forced my right hand outwards, pulling the remaining water to my body. I heard a grunt as my hand connected with another. I tried opening my eyes as I felt myself start to still, but black dots danced across them.
"Fuck me…" I muttered as I shook my head. The water immediately slunk up to my head and began soothing my throbbing head.
"Only if Chrysilla says yes… and she joins us."
I raised an eyebrow as I shifted my bleary eyes upwards. I squinted at Zina who chuckled at the sight of my confused and pained expression.
"I'll take that as a yes and ask her so it's not awkward between you two."
The dull pain slowly receded as I shook my head trying to decipher if Zina was kidding or not.
"Wha-"
"Business first, pleasure later." She cut me off, suddenly serious as she pointed to the floor beneath us.
"What the fuck are they doing here?"
"A rock cut them off from the rest of the group and I had to destroy the roads on either side to keep the monsters away from the others."
"Why didn't they just let Chris destroy the rock? I'm extremely certain he has a way."
Zina sighed. "They were being chased by a lot of monsters. They were buying time for the others."
"There must've been anothe-"
"Percy, I understand." Zina cut me off with a sigh. "I felt the same way when I saw them at first but… They were pretty shaken up. I can't imagine what it must feel like to be in the middle of it all instead of in the sky above it, much less without my abilities."
I sighed, nodding slightly at her words as I forced myself to calm down a little.
"Fuck. I just didn't want them to face that with us."
"Us? You needed help?"
I turned my head behind us, trying to find where I had been launched from.
"It's that powerful?"
"He's a god."
"Fuck."
Third Person
Chrysilla stumbled back as a heavy hand pushed against her shield.
The daughter of Athena's eyes widened slightly as her back was met with no resistance. A small grin slipped onto her face as she pivoted, her shield raising a little higher. The moment the shield buckled under the heavy slash; she pushed the blade upward. Her sword flickered from under her shield, slicing through flesh as it burrowed its way into the neck of the Empousa.
Chrysilla turned to find Adrastea spitting at the disintegrating corpse of the Cyclops.
"Where the fuck did these lot come from?"
The daughter of Athena let her eyes scan the area around them for a moment before responding.
"I wish I had an answer for you on this one."
A shrill screech resounded as a thick blast of energy pulverised the floor between them. Both girls stumbled back from the force of the impact, shielding themselves from the debris. They both cast curious glares upwards, only to find Percy's figure plummeting to the earth.
The son of Poseidon slammed into the skull of the Cyclops as it emerged from Chrysilla's shadow. The creature began sinking back into the darkness as Percy pushed off of its skull and landed beside Chrysilla.
"What the fuck?"
Percy barely shot the girls a look before his eyes shut closed. Thunder rumbled overhead as the clouds began to bathe the earth in light rain.
"The Cyclops. It's the one that took your mother's essence. It's a new god."
The air hummed as Zina swept past them, a thin beam of energy smashing the ground between them.
"Why the fuck does she keep doing that?"
Percy's eyes snapped open as he turned to Adrastea. "It can shadow travel somehow. She's drowning out the shadows to give me time to get you two up to date."
He sighed as he called upon two small orbs of water. "I'd have preferred if you two had been with the others." He shook his head as the two balls of water shot off to the right wrist of each girl. "I don't think it's mastered using its true form yet, but it can use it. Whenever you feel the water harden on your wrist, close your eyes."
"What the fuck!"
Zina's cry drew their attention.
The daughter of Bia hung with her wings to the floor, having narrowly evaded a massive boulder still looming overhead. The issue arose from the underside of the rock. The massive hand of the Cyclops god emerged, another heavy rock in hand. The creature propelled the rock as the stunned Zina.
The daughter of Bia quickly pointed her palms to the rock. Thin beams of light spat out of her hands, doing little to push the rock away from her, but forcing her own frame back slightly. Her body twisted such that her left side was pointed to the earth, her palms still firing the beams of energy at the rock. Her wings flapped heavily, barely pulling her from the path of the rock before tucking to avoid being hit themselves.
"Close!" Chrysilla cried out to Adrastea as the water on her wrist froze over.
A searing light flashed before the girls. Chrysilla raised her shield on instinct, gripping at Adrastea as she felt the girl's form crash into her back.
Percy's blade struck out as he used his Mist Sight to sense the movement of the creature. Riptide bit into the palm of the Cyclops as a thick spike of ice slammed into its elbow. The god pulled its arm back, its body flickering back to normal as a massive Hellhound bit at its loincloth and pulled it back into the shadows.
"What the fuck do we do about that?" Zina asked as she hovered over her comrades.
"Do you think that Hellhound is how it can shadow travel and it's not one of its abilities?"
Percy turned to Chrysilla, "You saw that?"
She shrugged easily, "The ice melted so I looked."
Percy chuckled lightly despite the situation.
"So, the god can't teleport by itself then?" Adrastea mocked as she gripped her sword tightly.
"Whatever it can't do, it sure as Hades is making up for it with whatever that was."
Percy nodded at Zina. "I think it might be using Hellhounds to bring in more monsters, as well."
"So, a god of monsters?" Adrastea guessed.
Percy shot the daughter of Ares a grin, "Right in one."
"And one with the essence of my mother to boost its intelligence…"
Percy hummed in agreement, his smile melting from his face as his eyes continued to scan the area. "He did this before. He would disappear for a while, sometimes using a distraction, before reappearing with some quick attack."
Chrysilla raised an eyebrow in shock. "Guerrilla tactics? Did he fight you without it?"
Percy simply nodded as he closed his eyes, pushing out his senses as far as the falling droplets of water would allow. A small chuckle slipped free from the lips of Athena's daughter.
"So, he switched because he couldn't face you head-on."
"Sounds about right," Percy replied easily.
"Why not kill its Hellhound?" Chrysilla's head tilted in surprise at Adrastea's words. "If Percy can beat it in a head-to-head fight, with Zina and even us, it wouldn't stand a chance."
Zina dropped to the floor, taking a deep breath as she leaned against the daughter of Ares.
"If you guys can draw the Hellhound out, I can get a shot from the sky."
"You'd just need a clean shot at the shadows he's slipping into. The moment they begin to stretch out, that's when to get the shot in."
Zina turned to Percy. "Are you sure that'll work?"
Percy shrugged easily, his powerful green eyes staring back at the daughter of Bia. The girl shivered under the intensity of his gaze.
"The Hellhound will have to come out of the shadow for a little bit before slipping back into it. Nico explained it to me a while back. We can get into the details later though."
Zina nodded as his eyes snapped shut once more.
Adrastea shuffled lightly, ruffling Zina's feathers as her head shifted from side to side. "Why the fuck is it taking so long?"
"He's setting up his plan…" Chrysilla's eyes narrowed as she hummed to herself. "He's probably waiting for us to make a move before he strikes. Whether it's us dropping our guard or initiating a search to attack him."
"I can't believe I was afraid of a weak-willed coward like this," Adrastea muttered to herself, her fingers tapping against the hilt of her blade as her eyes continued to scan the surroundings.
"Fuck!" Marc cried as he pulled himself to his feet.
Adrian slipped his dagger back into its sheath, patting the son of Ares on his shoulder, "Only the injured are allowed off their feet."
The larger boy grunted in response. He shifted slightly, reaching for his axe before dragging himself to his feet.
Another shrill screech filled the air.
"Good to see Zina's still good. We can use a few minutes…" Adrian muttered, more to himself than Marc, as he peered up at the sky once the flash disappeared. Shifting his grey eyes back to Marc, he shook his head. "I sent Cassandra with the Satyrs and the new demigods to get to safety, and some help hopefully."
Marc nodded, his eyes shifting to the massive boulder in contempt. "Chrysilla and Adrastea are back in the thick of it."
Adrian's zoned out as he took stock of their situation. Behind him, Teucer was in the middle of a heated argument with Kerwin as he tried to stem the blood pouring from his thigh. The wound had apparently been much worse than the son of Ares had let on and he was adamantly contesting that he was fine to fight, while the son of Apollo was certain he would be dead in minutes without treatment.
Jordon suddenly appeared from trees behind the pair. He said something lost to Adrian's ears and the son of Ares quieted himself. Chris trudged out of the trees himself, his own words drawing a smirk on the faces of the two children of Apollo. Much to the ire of Kerwin. Adrian watched as Jordon jogged over to Katherine's side, his smile fading away as he dropped to his knees on the other side of Crystal. He had brushed past Lily, who stared at her sister with a pale face and shaking hands.
"Should we try to get the others to the camp?"
Adrian's eyes snapped back to Ajax, blinking slightly as he included the son of Aristaeus in his mental role call.
"There's too much of us for that." Adrian started, shaking his head as he turned his back to the boulder.
"But we could've made it to the camp by now, instead of sitting here waiting to die!"
Marc stepped past Adrian, clamping his hand on the boy's shoulder.
"And leave Kerwin and Lily to die? Or did you also intend to leave Jordon, Katherine and Teucer who are desperately trying to save their lives?"
Ajax's lips quivered as his words caught in his throat. His hazel eyes shifted to the sight of the injured being treated before he snapped them back to Adrian's. The son of Athena could read the fear-induced intentions and shook his head at him.
"We knew what we signed up for. It's either us or the children."
Ajax's eyes began to water at his words. He shook his head in denial even as Helen stepped up to the group, gently pulling Marc's hand from his shoulder and replacing it with her own.
"It's just like we planned. The Satyr's magic should be enough to conceal them until they get to safety, especially since Cassandra is with them."
Ajax shuddered as his muscles relaxed under Helen's soothing tone.
"I know… I just… I lost my head for a second there."
Helen nodded at him, her eyes darted to Marc and Adrian. "I get it. Let's just talk to keep your mind here with us, alright?"
The son of Aristaeus nodded, letting himself be led away. Marc sighed heavily, running his hand through his hair as he turned to scan the group.
"Chris!" The son of Ares called, drawing the larger boy's attention. "Where's Jerome?"
The son of Hephaestus motioned to the trees where he had just returned from, earning a look of confusion from Marc.
"Fuck, we need to stick together. Can you go get him?"
Chris stared at the forest before shifting his gaze to Jordon. He turned his eyes back to Marc, "I can't make my way through here without him, to be honest."
Marc sighed, but Katherine's strained voice caught his attention. "She should be in the clear now, Jordon. Go get her brother."
The son of Apollo waited for further assurance before standing and making his way to the trees next to Chris.
Adrian clicked his tongue, drawing Marc's eyes. The son of Athena was staring up at the sky, his eyebrows scrunched up as thoughts raced through his mind. "How much longer before we can have them up and moving?"
"Should-"
Katherine's voice suddenly became garbled, startling the two leaders.
"Hellhounds!"
The word came before their eyes could turn to face the daughter of Apollo. Adrian reached for his dagger as Marc raised his Axe. They both baulked slightly at the sight before them.
Katherine flopped aggressively through the air, prone at the mercy of the Hellhound's jaws clamped around her throat. Her flailing limbs slammed against the hound, increasing its ferocity due to irritation; despite the fact that the cause of her assaults was its own aggressiveness.
"Helen! Ajax! Shoot it!" Adrian's voice cracked as he gave the order, Marc already moving towards the creature.
Kerwin cried out in agony and rage as he wrestled a hound on top of him. The heavy, clawed, paws dug into his body as his arms kept its snapping maw at bay. He twisted sharply, snapping its neck before pulling an unconscious Teucer away from the shadows of the tree. Another hound burst out, right into the waiting arms of Kerwin. The son of Ares' hand clamped around its neck, eager to feel its neck twist its life away; even as its claws drew more of his own life away.
An arrow slapped out of a bow, crashing into the creature's skull and winning Kerwin the match. The son of Ares groaned heavily as he heaved himself back to Teucer's side. He turned to the son of Apollo, pulling his shoulder to stop him from smothering himself on the earth. Kerwin froze as he saw the massive gash across his upper chest and throat, his blue eyes dull as they stared emptily at his father's chariot.
"KERWIN FUCKING MOVE!"
Marc cried, his muscles tensing as he heaved the axe over his head. The weapon slipped out of his hands, propelling at the monsters behind his brother. The blade of the axe caught the Empousa in the chest, knocking it off of the Hellhound it rode. Marc looked up; his gaze being altered from the force of throwing the axe. His eyes widened as he saw the spear of the disintegrating creature pinning Kerwin to the earth from his chest.
"FUCKING SHOOT AJAX!"
Adrian cried out as he deflected a sword with his own. He drove his dagger into the Empousa's chest before he repeated his cry with more vigour.
"I knew it. I knew it. I knew it. I knew it." Ajax whispered to himself, his bow and arrow still on his back as he trembled.
Helen cursed lightly, slipping another arrow into her quiver before she felt something slam into her stomach. She rolled with the blow, gripping her arrow tighter as she felt her bow slip from her other hand. The daughter of Aphrodite wasted no time in pushing herself to her feet, dancing to the right as a spear sliced through the air where she just stood. The tip of an arrow sprouted from the Dracaena's forehead. Helen smiled as she saw Ajax notch another arrow and turn to Katherine.
The son of Aristaeus stared out at the Hellhound still gripping tightly at the flailing body of Katherine with a churning amalgamation of fury, disgust, shock, horror, and pain. Forcing his emotions down, he took a deep breath and pulled the string back further. He let a feral scream out, in frustration for freezing and the entire situation they found themselves in.
He panted, his eyes shifting back towards Katherine to find Lily still staring in shock as the Hellhound continued to treat Katherine like a chew toy. He blinked, his eyebrows curling downward as he pondered on whether he had missed. His confusion at the fact that his arrow hadn't ended the hound's life was only confounded as the world blurred. The boy's eyes blinked in confusion as the world spun a few times, the sensation of the earth against his hair only serving to further his disorientation.
"AJAX, NO!"
Helen's voice called out to him, and he tried to turn his neck to find his friend. The world started to dim as his eyes felt heavy. He tried to speak but found that he couldn't. He couldn't comprehend what was happening, but the fear mounted at the sight of the underside of a Cyclops foot soaring above him.
He couldn't understand why his body refused to listen to him.
An Empousa gave a vicious snarl as it tugged at the reins of the Hellhound. It stared with grim satisfaction as Ajax's decapitated head was crushed by the Cyclops. The monster's victory was short-lived as its mount suddenly crumpled.
Adrian's sword slipped into the skull of the Hellhound as Helen's arrow caught the Empousa's eye. Marc pushed past them, his axe tearing the earth apart. The fury of the son of Ares burned his throat as it formed a bloodcurdling scream.
"DIE!"
A burning rage ate away at all the demigods remaining, their muscles tightening as their growls grew in intensity.
"DIE FOR THE VANGUARD! KILL FOR THE VANGUARD!"
Marc's axe split the Cyclops in half, from groin to skull, before he gripped the left half of the creature. Launching the remnants of the monster, he stepped against the innards of the right to use it as a shield against a sword slash from a Dracaena. He pushed the remainder of the corpse onto the other monster, as it struggled to free its sword from the hunk of flesh. Marc's axe ripped through dissolving flesh and into that of the living. Drenched in guts, brain matter and blood, Marc turned and bellowed at the monsters around him.
The creatures faltered at the sight of him.
Lily cried out again, her eyes watering as she found herself playing tug of war with the same Hellhound which tore through Katherine's throat.
"Leave my sister alone!" The daughter of Hermes cried out, even as Crystal's body tore at the midsection. The spray of her blood on Lily's face was warm, soothing even, as she finally pulled her sister into an embrace. Lily hugged at what remained of her sister, scooting backwards as she muttered apologies to her.
Helen's arrow sunk into the Hellhound's eye, preventing it from getting closer to the grieving Lily. An Empousa pushed off of the back of another Hellhound, propelling out of the shadow of the tree to her left. Helen growled as her eyes trailed past the creature. Seeing another hound bearing down on the daughters of Hermes, she shot an arrow at the Empousa. The creature brought a shield to its face, its spear rising quickly with the motion.
Closing the distance, Helen drew another arrow from her quiver. Her first bounced off the shield of the Empousa, and the monster snarled as its spear barrelled through the air towards her. Helen slipped to the right of the weapon, planting her feet, and swivelling on her heels. Sliding in the damp earth, her back knocked the spear to the side. Her bow raised to the left of the creature's head, her right hand jabbing her arrow through the gap of her bow and into the Empousa's skull. Plucking the arrow out quickly, she notched it and the bloody projectile was sent hurtling towards the Hellhound. The arrow slammed into the hound's hind leg, stopping its pounce as it whined in pain.
The creature's suffering was prolonged as Jerome's daggers flashed and sliced its limbs off.
The son of Hermes growled, his eyes flashing with blinding rage as he continued his erratic dance towards his sisters, protecting them at every cost. His left dagger slipped free from his hands, catching a Telkhine in the neck. His right dagger caught an Empousa in the eye.
Helen shrieked as she turned from killing another hound. The son of Hermes ran himself through upon the thrust of a sword thrust. He spat his blood into the eyes of the Empousa, gripping its arm and twisting it with a resounding snap. Spinning, he used the edge of the blade protruding from his back to impale the creature with its sword.
Helen's next three arrows kept Lily alive, earning a large grin from Jerome who lulled in and out, stumbling as the Empousa behind him disintegrated. His smile faded, catching Helen's teary eyes by surprise as his eyes locked onto Lily. Suddenly, he took off towards her. Helen raised her bow, fearing the loss of blood had driven the boy mad, but was intercepted by a massive wooden club barely missing her skull.
She turned to see Chris with his hammer raised. The approaching Cyclops' skull had exploded under the impact and the force of the blow had blasted the club's trajectory off course. Helen's eyes snapped back to Jerome to see him diving over Lily. A Hellhound burst free from the shadows of the tree Lily sat at, but Jerome's body flew in between the two. The sword, still lodged in his torso, caught the creature in the skull, bursting it to dust before Jerome collided with the earth, unmoving.
"Keep your fucking head on properly!" Chris cried out, pulling Helen away from another strike before swinging his hammer with one hand and blasting another Empousa back.
Helen blinked away her tears before nodding at the son of Hephaestus. The larger boy missed her gesture, having already left to claim his next victim.
"Marc!" Helen's head snapped to Adrian's cry to see a spear firmly lodged in his shoulder. Four arrows were freed from her bow before Adrian could close the distance.
The son of Athena heard the whizzing of the projectiles but ignored them. The arrows thudded against the Cyclops, pushing it back. Taking the opportunity, Adrian's sword cut off the creature's hand at the wrist. Glancing at the son of Ares, Adrian baulked. The larger boy had an awful smirk on his lips, his usually brown eyes were replaced by twin flames which burned with an unspeakable fury.
Shaking his head, Adrian moved to stand between Marc and the Cyclops. A heavy hand rested on his shoulder and the son of Athena turned to face Marc. The larger boy held his hand out, motioning for the dagger in Adrian's hand. The son of Athena obliged, as the other boy was weaponless, before turning and impaling the handless Cyclops in the heart with his sword.
"Thanks, Adrian." Marc's guttural voice washed over the son of Athena, causing his eyes to twitch as anger coursed through his body. Adrian turned to see Marc offering him his dagger back. A large bulk of the shaft of the spear had been cut off, leaving only the head which had impaled him.
Marc bent over, retrieving his fallen axe and weighing it in his left hand. Nodding to himself, he moved to attack the nearest monster.
Thunder rumbled overhead, stilling the battle as all eyes shifted upwards. Light danced across the clouds above before a massive bolt of lightning smashed into the floor. The arcs of light danced across the battlefield, electrocuting only the monsters with striking precision. The two leaders of the Vanguard stood, stunned at the massive display of power.
"Fuck, we're late."
Marc turned around, his burning eyes meeting with Clarisse's. The daughter of Ares stared at him in shock before she closed the distance between them and slammed her spear into the earth at her side. Her hands raised to either side of his face and held his head firmly.
"We're here now. You've done great, soldier. You can relax now."
The flames in Marc's eyes dimmed, shifting back to the brown orbs as his smirk faded from his face. Clarisse nodded at him, turning away as his eyes welled up with tears and he collapsed into her embrace.
"Where is everyone else?"
Adrian placed a hand on Chris', who had stepped towards the son of Zeus.
"We are everyone. The monsters ambushed us, aiming for the injured being treated first."
Marc's eyes darted over to where he remembered seeing Kerwin last, his mind clearing from his bloodlust. Kerwin sat on his heels, a spear through his chest and the body of Teucer behind him.
"Fuck, what about Oliver, Shaquille, and Tassos?"
"I couldn't save Oliver." All eyes darted to the sound of Jordon's voice. The son of Apollo dragged the unconscious bodies of Shaquille and Tassos behind him.
"How?" Adrian asked the boy, who shrugged as he dropped the feet of the boys behind him.
"I had Chris and Jerome put them in a tree before I went to help Katherine with Crystal. It was actually a good thing you sent us for Jerome, Marc. A few monsters were gathered at the base and a Cyclops managed to pull Oliver down, but we cleared them out. I sent the other two back and climbed the tree, secured them, and shot everything coming my way."
"I think she's alive over here!"
Everyone turned to the third demigod who had come with Jason and Clarisse. Lily clung to the upper body of Crystal in her right arm and Jerome's body in her left. She rocked slightly with them, her eyes long since lost the tears to cry as she whispered at the cold bodies.
"They got Percy too?" Clarisse asked as she looked around.
"No," Jason said simply, pointing towards the singular rain cloud hanging in the sky a few hundred metres away.
"Is it just him there?"
Marc shook his head, "Adrastea and Chrysilla were cut off from us and went back to him."
"And Zina might still be in the sky," Helen added hopefully.
"She might be where?" Jason queried with a raised eyebrow.
"Who's that?" Clarisse asked.
A shrill screech rang out through the air, blinding the demigods for a moment as a brilliant light flashed out.
"A daughter of Bia," Helen answered, still stunned by the flash.
"I'll go to her then. You think you can get to Percy, Clarisse?"
Thunder rolled overhead, lighting dancing in the single storm cloud. Her eyes shifted to either side of the boulder, at the gouged earth which also barred her path. "Nope. That's on you too. Get to the daughter of Bia first and then Percy. If my sister and Chrysilla made it to Percy, they'd be safer than us right now."
Jason nodded quickly before pushing off the floor and taking to the sky.
"I can take you all to the hospital, you do-"
"We're not leaving without Percy," Marc said firmly. Clarisse nodded easily at his response before turning to the other demigod.
"Tell the others to hurry the fuck up, and bring some Apollo kids."
The boy nodded and took off over the hill as Clarisse turned back to the roiling skies. Plucking her spear from the earth, she hummed to herself.
"Stay on your toes then. I can't let any more of you die on Percy."
A ball of water collected in Percy's hands suddenly. His eyes snapped open again and he turned to Zina. The ball darted towards the girl before extending, forming a thin coat around her figure.
"That'll help me keep you dry. Just don't fly off too far. Let's start to make a movement and draw out the coward then. This feels off."
The daughter of Bia nodded, marvelling slightly at the dryness of her skin despite the water so close to it. Her wings pulled her into the air, leaving the three demigods in wait for their enemy's next move.
After a few tense moments, Percy's fingers twitched. The drops of rain around Zina suddenly stilled. The droplets surged upwards, collecting above the girl, and clearing her vision below slightly.
"A few monsters entered the rain from where we came from."
Adrastea and Chrysilla nodded, both slipping into their defensive positions.
"We'll deal with them; you focus on the big one." Percy nodded to Adrastea as the two girls took a few steps away from the son of Poseidon to engage the approaching monsters.
The daughter of Ares grunted slightly as her sword caught the powerful swing of Telkhines' blade. She pushed the creature back, sending it sliding on the damp earth before her sword slipped into its neck.
"What the fuck is that d… Percy, look out!" Chrysilla called out as a much shorter Cyclops grabbed an Empousa and threw it over the two demigods in its way. The shape-shifting monster curled up onto its shield, catching the edge of Adrastea's sword. The force of the strike tipped the creature over, revealing its other, weaponless hand as it flew over Percy's head.
A shrill screech filled the area as a beam of light stung the eyes of all those on the battlefield. The beam of light raced beneath the shield of the Empousa, where the shadows had begun to elongate. The light slipped into the shadows, a yelp resounding out of it as Riptide slid past the Empousa's shield.
Percy's eyes widened as he turned on his heels. The water at the wrists of Chrysilla and Adrastea froze over in response to his command. The girls instantly slipped behind Chrysilla's shield once more, their eyes screwed tightly shut as another burning flash swarmed the area.
As quick as the light came, it disappeared.
Chrysilla, having faced her closed eyes to the floor, noticed the disappearance of the flash before the ice on her wrist could melt. Desperate to gather some more information before the god could retreat, she lowered her shield in an instant. Her eyes widened in shock, her ears acutely picking up on Percy's cry of her name. Her muscles pulsated as adrenaline coursed through her veins.
She slipped her shield from her hand, pushing it with the palm of her left away from her body as her right pushed Adrastea to the floor. Using the leverage from her push, she let her own body be shifted to the side. The sound of metal crumpling barely reached her ears as her body was floating over Adrastea's head. Her grey eyes trickled down to her stomach, where a massive golden spear had been lodged.
Percy's hand slammed downward. The water he had collected above Zina had been formed into a thick spear of ice. The heavy chunk of frozen water sailed through the air almost as fast as the god's weapon. The tip of the ice slammed in between the god's legs, slipping into the shadow before the god could. The god's eye widened in shock, stepping to the side as his sacred animal's body was ejected from the shadows.
The massive Hellhound was a familiar sight to the son of Poseidon, having faced the creature before. It had met a much more gruesome end this time, as either end of his icy rod protruded from either end of the monster. Despite the significance and remarkable nature of his triumph over the Hellhound, his attention was elsewhere.
Percy collapsed at Chrysilla's side, gingerly holding her body as he stared into her cold grey eyes.
Adrastea quivered in rage.
A shrill screech drowned out the agony-filled cries of the son of Poseidon.
The god threw the corpse of his sacred animal into the beam of light, using the extra seconds to slip out of the beam's reach. The bolt dug into the earth behind it, tearing the earth apart and masking the footsteps of Ares' daughter.
Adrastea's body glowed an ugly red as the girl pushed off the floor. Her sword bit into the Cyclops' side, bathing herself in golden ichor as she dropped to the floor on the other side of the god. The Cyclops stepped back in shock at the sudden eruption of pain from its side. There was little respite as another searing pain formed in its thigh, its weight sinking as its left leg buckled. Its eye flickered back to the sky to see the daughter of Bia glaring at him, her palm still glowing.
"I thought that made a sound!"
There was no clarification, just pain as a response.
Adrastea's sword bit into the back of its knee before the girl kicked off the top of its calf. The girl narrowly evaded the weight of the god as it collapsed on its right knee, into a kneeling position. His hand held its side, forcing the gash to heal. The god shook its head, deciding it needed to respond quickly to avoid its demise.
Its free hand rose, its fingers preparing to snap when another bolt of energy tore through his hand. The god groaned in agony, his eyes shifting to its feet in fear as the daughter of Ares had landed on his injured left thigh. Waves of malicious energy rolled off her body as she raised her sword and jumped towards its face.
An arrow slammed into her shoulder.
Adrastea's back slammed against the god's left knee before her limbs twisted upon impact with the floor.
A screech filled the air, catching Zina by surprise. The girl fired a quick beam of energy at the clouds, her wings pulling her to the floor as a Dragon appeared from the skies.
"I AM STILL A GOD!" The Cyclops roared as the shadows around them elongated. Hundreds of Hellhounds slipped from the shadows, each with another monster on their back.
"Zina… Get them out of here." Percy's quiet words rang out through the air.
There was no hesitation to respond.
The daughter of Bia swooped down and plucked Adrastea's broken form from the foot of the Cyclops before quickly appearing by Percy's side. She stared at the massive spear protruding from Chrysilla's body. Percy gently pried the weapon free, nodding to Zina as he stood to his feet.
"Do you think I would just let them go after what they've done to me?"
The dragon roared in response to the Cyclops, diving down and baring its fangs at the demigods.
The spear of the god flashed in the sky.
The dragon screeched in agony, pulling up sharply as its blood splattered against the floor below.
"Go."
Zina's wings drew out before she quickly took to the sky.
Percy pulled his hand at the spear, and it was quickly pulled towards him.
"Kill him!"
Jason paused at the sight of Zina.
Bia's daughter flew wearily, her wings flapping inconsistently as she struggled with the weight of the two demigods in her arms. The girl's altitude dropped just as Jason caught sight of how incredibly pale her face was. He mustered the winds around him, urging them to close the distance between himself and the struggling demigod.
The air grew humid as he drew near Zina and his eyes widened as a plume of flames broke through the clouds. His hand swiped up, forcing the winds to wall off the sudden attack. His eyes drew past the daughter of Bia, electric blue orbs swirling with patient contempt. The form of an injured Dragon soon followed its flames into the wall of winds.
Thunder clapped overhead as the Dragon's wings suddenly found no air beneath them. A thick bolt of lightning coursed through the creature's body, sending it in a charred spiral to the floor.
Jason shifted his attention back to the daughter of Bia who had simply flown past him. He flew at her side, careful to draw her attention as he saw her drooping eyes.
"I'm so sorry I'm late."
Zina's eyes darted open at the sudden sound of his voice. The air suddenly grew stale as she drew upon some form of latent and ancient energy reserved for demigods. She took a deep breath at the sight of Zeus' son, barely managing to nod towards Adrastea's prone form.
"She's still alive, just unconscious. Get her to an Apollo kid quickly."
Jason nodded, gently slipping the girl into his arms. He lingered for a few moments, watching as Zina carefully shifted Chrysilla's body into a bridal position. The winged girl drew in a deep breath, her eyes suddenly more alert as she pushed through her exhaustion.
Jason nodded to himself as the girl flew past him once again. He swiftly pursued her, careful to maintain his distance behind her as he ensured she could see her mission to the end.
"Perseus, Perseus, Perseus."
The god of monsters smirked, his hand forcing his wounds to heal as he peered at the form of the demigod wielding his weapon.
"I can assure you; the loss of your woman is little compared to what my Hellhound caused with the rest of your group."
The Cyclops laughed, though its eye narrowed as he realised its monsters had yet to step towards the son of Poseidon.
"Did you really think that I was simply setting up a trap for just the three of you? The mighty son of Poseidon, well renowned for his loyalty. Did you truly think I would take you out first?"
The god slipped his hand to its right knee.
"Even as we speak, the daughter of Bia is being chased by the dragon!"
The god's hand shifted to its left thigh.
"And here we stand. The remains of the Vanguard before the god of monsters!"
The god smirked, pulling itself to its feet. He stared around at his monsters, frowning slightly as he noticed how heavy the air was laced with fear.
"Perseus." The god's head snapped back to the son of Poseidon, shocked at the man's proclamation of his name.
"The name was meant to grant me luck by my mother. It has become a symbol of something much greater in my lifetime. Tell me, do you recall the tales of my name in the pit? Do you think they were regaled out of adoration? Do you think they were allowed the chance to tell those tales, by my luck? Or is it that I have grown to become the exact definition of my name?"
The world grew quiet, the air thickening with vapour as thunder roiled overhead. The hum in the air intensified as a low whistle rang through the scattered trees.
"Your little word game of your infame amongst mine means scant against reality. All of the suffering you've granted upon my people will be avenged in this moment. By their hands or mine!"
The god spread his arms around, his words breaking through the fear eating away at the hearts of the monsters around him. Garbled sounds, growls and disjointed words trickled out as the monster army burned with desire.
"You claim to be a god, yet why is it that my name carries more weight than yours?" The god's eye twitched as Riptide slowly sprung free from its pen form. Percy hummed to himself, retracting the blade as he instead studied the spear in his other hand.
"As a matter of fact, do you even have a name?"
The Cyclops roared, calling his spear to him. Percy released the weapon immediately as it began to soar towards its owner. The moment it reached in front of Poseidon's son; the Cyclops flicked his palm forward. The spear crashed against the blood-stained blues of Percy's armour before glowing. The tip flashed with godly energy, melting a hole into the armour before burying itself above his right hip.
Percy gripped the spear, steam filling the air as he held the weapon in place. He stepped to his right, letting a sword slip past him. Stepping back into the empousa, he pushed the spear through his body and armour. The creature cried out as its body evaporated instantly upon contact with the spear. Percy barely groaned as he released his grip on the spear, sending the weapon careening back to the god.
A tight bond of ice fabricated out of the air, forming on the spear, and keeping it just out of reach of the god. The thickness of the ice grew as a frigidness trickled into the atmosphere. The soft whistling in the trees raised a few decibels as the winds found urgency in their dance around the son of Poseidon.
The emergence of the hurricane was sudden.
Shards of ice caught in the winds and were whipped through the monster army at speeds beyond comprehension. Their dust was quick to join the personalised storm of Perseus, joining the winds in their efforts to levitate the demigod.
"Worry not, nameless. Your death will be spoken of until the end of time."
The words of the destroyer shattered eardrums as it crashed upon the monsters with the weight of thunder. Lightning followed, its flashing arcs illuminating the poisonous green orbs at the heart of the storm. The winds pulled the monsters closer to the storm, sending waves of lightning and ice throughout their ranks as they struggled to fight against the power of Perseus.
"You speak of death to a god, boy. I will live a thousand years after your name fades from history! It will be then that my name shall be sung! The blood of the Vanguard is no longer even a stain on my hands or the minds of the people! But my name… my name will be known!"
A hollow laughter sprung free from the centre of the storm. The skies above opened up even further as the drizzle turned to a downpour.
"You will be remembered as the foolish Cyclops who led a thousand monsters to their death."
The god let his eye shift around the soaked soil. Its gaze lingered beyond Percy at the dark abyss formed where the road had once been paved. It beckoned him, urging him to step into the darkness. The god shook his head, prying his spear free from its icy prison, formed by Poseidon's son.
He took a deep breath as he called upon the godly essence, groaning as his body flickered. There was no shift this time, his body remaining in its normal state.
Even the power he had claimed had left him alone.
The golden spear flicked upward on reflex, parrying the blow of Perseus' blade. The winds beneath his feet brought the destroyer to his eye. The greyish browns glared back at him. The god closed his eye, letting the blade bite into his eyelid as his spear rose to bat the boy away. The Cyclops grunted as the spear was met with powerful resistance. The shaft nearly slipped free from his grip as he was sent stumbling to the right behind his weapon.
The god forced its eye open as a large shard of ice impaled his right thigh. Pulling his injured leg behind him, he swiftly pulled his spear before him. Another shard of ice was deflected before his eye located the hovering form of Perseus.
He growled, rushing the retreating figure. The god's eye widened as he slipped on the muddy earth. He pushed the butt of its spear against the floor, leaning backwards and pushing off the ground. His eye narrowed as a chunk of ice slammed into the floor where he would have fallen. He smirked at the son of Poseidon, readying his spear once more.
A bludgeoned blow slammed into his lower back, sending the god stumbling forward. The air swirled around his face, his cheek stinging painfully as Celestial bronze danced across it. His eye stung from its previous laceration as he forced it closed, but a litter of stings across his torso alerted him that his lapse in concentration didn't come without cost.
"Enough!"
Perseus shut his eyes as a massive swell of power burst from the god. The searing light of the god's true form was accompanied by a blast of energy. The storm around the prince was dispersed by the blast, sending him stumbling through the air. He called upon the remnants of the storm to converge at his back, righting his body as his feet slid on the muddy earth.
"Suffer within the afterlife with the rest of your pathetic little group!"
A bolt of energy escaped the tip of the god's spear. Water pulled from the muddy floor, gripping at the feet of the Vanguard's leader. He slid across the floor, slipping away from the blast as another bolt was fired directly into his path. Riptide caught the bolt of energy in a reflexive slash. The earth sprayed upwards as the blast engulfed the son of Poseidon. Though there was no respite. The Cyclops brushed past the rising sediments, determined to take advantage of the screen of earth.
A thick pillar of water shot up into its chest. The Cyclops slid across the earth, its body stained with the mixture of mud and the golden remains of his monsters. The god grunted as it rose to its feet, annoyance morphing into frustration. Frustration into a bitter rage at how he was being handled by a mere demigod.
The god passed a hand across his eye, forcing it to heal as his vision blurred under the pain and heavy rain. His eye cleared to see steps forming from the falling water. The god backpedalled, his eye widening as Perseus appeared and sprung from the watery staircase. The god's knees slammed against the ground as he dropped out of the son of Poseidon's path. Quickly, spinning against the muddy floor, he turned to face the back of Perseus. His spear snaked forward and slithered towards the back of his enemy.
Perseus peered over his shoulder at the victorious grin of the Cyclops. There was no fear in his eyes as they dropped to the spear which plummeted through the sky towards him. The water in the air behind him slammed down onto the spear, veering it off course. The stairs he had used to reach the eye level of the god reformed into another massive pillar. The sound of the god's shocked cry of pain brought a victorious grin to Perseus' face.
The water of the pillar pushed the Cyclops to the floor with a resounding thud. The water split into two blobs before forming into thin sheets of ice. They sliced into the wrists of the god as it tried to push itself from the wet earth. The god's cries were reinvigorated as its wrists were severed from its body. Its face slammed back onto the floor.
Perseus landed on the damp grassy earth, hopping lightly as the water beneath him sprung him towards the back of the Cyclops. He landed on the back of its neck, the rain slowing back to drizzle to allow the creature to hear his words.
"Isn't it ironic for you to be beneath me now? A nameless god grovelling at the feet of a lowly demigod."
Perseus pushed off of the god's back, water wrapping around the Cyclops' neck. The son of Poseidon landed before the monster, the water pulling its head back. The Cyclops glared at him, opening its mouth to curse at him. Two thick sheets of ice slid into the upper thighs of the god, freeing its body from its legs. The monster's words were cut off by its own, agony-riddled, screams.
"At least you have your own tale to tell about the wretched son of Poseidon, with a name. But you already know what it is. You'll just be another Cyclops added to the list of monsters I've defeated."
Thunder rumbled overhead as the rains came to a halt.
The latent water, puddling on the floor, swarmed towards the son of Poseidon. The earth dried in an instant as the water formed around the body of the Cyclops. Perseus forced the water down the god's throat as the rest of it encapsulated the being.
"Percy!"
Perseus' cold empty eyes shifted towards Jason.
The son of Zeus stared at him, keeping his distance from the livid son of Poseidon.
Percy turned back to the Cyclops, a thin stream of water pulling towards his hand as he capped Riptide. The water formed into chain links before freezing over. The prisonous cocoon of water hovered a few inches off the floor as Percy made a show of dragging the Cyclops behind him.
He stopped a few feet from the still-hovering, son of Zeus.
Jason said nothing, lowering himself to Percy's side and pulling his friend into the sky to clear the massive hole which blocked their path to camp. The two flew through the air in silence, the Cyclops trailing behind them.
A/N:
This chapter was extremely difficult to commit to. I've spent almost two years developing these characters and the story to this point. There was even a version of this story where this never happened. I made this decision almost a year ago for this scene to happen and I wrote Percy's response to it a long time ago, but writing about the deaths… It was far more difficult than I had imagined.
I'm sitting on editing this for so many weeks because I don't want these characters to die. I'm sorry it's taking so long for such a small reason.
I hope you're all having a great day whenever you're reading this. See you all next time!
-ZedricSOZ