Lets just head straight into this next chapter shall we?

Percy stood there, in shock and scared. Did his own mother just suggest that he have a gauntlet fight against some of the most well trained warriors in the world who also have a deep rooted hatred for men? And last time he checked, he was a man!

"Alright girls make your pick, who are the 5 lucky girls who are going to beat down, sorry I mean fairly fight Percy."

Percy looked at his mum in betrayal, she just looked back innocently and mouthed

"You were late." Artemis shrugged, smirked and turned away.

The hunters all whispered in hushed tones, with evil smirks on their faces.

Percy gulped once again, knowing the world of pain that he was about to face.

What he didn't realise though, is that Artemis was betting on him to win. She knew just how good of a fighter he was, and she knew that he would very easily be able to pick out the weaknesses of each of the hunters, exploit them then help improve the hunters as fighters. In all honesty, Artemis was really hoping that Percy could actually become their weapons trainer: improve her hunters and himself. We'll have to see if they accept him first.

"Milady, we have chosen our five fighters."

Artemis turned towards the hunters and Percy with a smile.

The hunters were gleaming, he was not. Percy looked like he wanted to die.

"So the first fighter will be Beth" The one who set up the original prank against Percy. She was fairly new to the hunters, but agile and quick.

"The second will be Atlanta." Ah slightly more experience, one of our best archers.

"Third will be Tara." One of the only hunters who don't mind using a sword, very good fighter.

"Fourth will be Pheobe." Now this is where it might get difficult to Percy, he's up against the longest serving hunter at the moment.

"And finally it'll be"

"Me to face fish breath." Thalia had a wicked look in her eye, looking forward to the chance to beat down her cousin.

Percy now looked like he wanted to die and go to Tartarus.

Oh how he didn't know.

"Well then Percy it's time to start, please enter the circle"

He gulped one last time and entered the circle.

"Beth, will you please take your place in the circle."

She slowly walked to the ring anxiously, Beth nearly looked as nervous Percy did. Nearly.

"Okay now no fatal maiming, you are not allowed to cut or harm the other person. Only blunt blows. Whoever gets into the position to deliver a fatal blow will win. You are more than welcome to grab any weapons before each fight."

They stood at opposite ends of the circle, staring at each other. They drew their respective weapons, and held them by their sides. Percy held riptide at his side, and Beth had dual hunting knives in her hands.

"Now begin."

Percy's gaze steeled, but did not advance, keeping riptide by his side. Beth made her first mistake, and rushed him. She went for an overhand swipe with her right knife, aiming to bring it down onto his shoulder. He sidestepped and tripped her up. She fell but quickly got up and stared back at Percy. She was nervous but he was still completely serious, it was nerve-racking.

They stood for a couple seconds, just trying to feel each other out. But then as quick as a flash, Percy struck. The blunt side of his blade struck Beth's right wrist and his foot struck her left wrist causing her to drop both blades. He brought his foot down to sweep her legs and now she was on the ground underneath the cold bronze blade of riptide.

"Percy wins."

Artemis called out, not surprised by the results.

But all of the hunters were in shock. The deadly efficiency that Percy had was unnatural. It was dangerous. It was deadly...

"Next up is Atlanta."

Now all the hunters were looking nervous as Atlanta made her way to the circle, her bow was shouldered and she shakily made her way to the ring.

Percy quickly popped over to the weapons rack and grabbed a shield, wishing to eliminate her advantage with the bow. He walked back over with the steeled look in his eye ready to start the fight.

"Begin!"

Atlanta immediately notched her bow and fired arrow upon arrow towards Percy but he held his shield out deflecting each arrow, however he did not advance. Atlanta was nervous and seemed to be wasting her arrows at such a rate she didn't realise that she running out. Atlanta reached for another arrow only to feel one left and stopped in shock momentarily. Percy threw his shield away and worked his way towards her with a low swipe which Atlanta jumped and landed on the blade. In an impressive combined feat of strength and agility from each party, the sword lifted causing Atlanta to vault over Percy to the other side of the circle. She quickly let loose and arrow hoping to catch him off guard. On any normal opponent, this would have delivered a killing blow (albeit with a blunt arrow), however Percy was no normal foe. With lightning quick reflexes he whipped around and sliced with riptide as if the arrow were moving in slow motion. The wood bent and cracked, but riptide broke through it, stopping the momentum and the arrow fell in two either side of Percy. Audible gasps were heard from the stands while Atlanta stood there once again in a moment of shock. Percy leapt forward and held riptide to her throat, signalling his win.

"Percy... wins..."

Even Artemis was shocked at what she just witnessed. He had combat the arrows so effortlessly, and that is the one thing that she thought he would have an issue dealing with.

"Next up is Tara."

Tara walked down towards the circle, not as nervous as the others, with a gleam in her eye. She drew her sword confidently.

"You're not going to beat me that easily boy."

Percy just stared back back unwavered,

"Daughter of Ares?" He questioned.

"Problem with that punk?"

"Of course you are he muttered."

And before any more talk could happen between the two, Artemis called for the match to begin.

"Begin!"

They stood circling each other for a few moments, Percy knew that this fight was not going to be as easy as the others so he made sure to analyse Tara before hand. As a daughter of Ares she was bound to be strong and a good fighter. Her form was good and she held the sword in a two-handed grip. Percy tested the waters slightly and swiped at her from the left, she brought the sword to meet it and deflected it away powerfully immediately going in for a strike which he dodged easily. He swiped at her again but this time from the right. To compensate for the less strength on her weak side she seemed to extend a little when going to block the strike but Percy quickly changed direction and swung to her right. However she had predicted this and twisted out the way and knocked Percy in the ribs with the blunt of her sword. But he could've sworn there was the small nick of a blade. His gaze focused, and he attacked with revived intensity. Trying to work her down and keeping up pressure. Tara was parrying each of the blows but the two handed sword sacrificed agility for its extra strength and reach. Slowly she was worn out and Percy feinted going in for a lunge, she fell for it. She pulled him in but Percy kept the momentum going and followed through by knocking her to the ground, kicking her sword away and holding the sword to her throat. All of this happened in a millisecond, and for the third time today the hunters were in disbelief. They were sure that Tara was at least going to provide a challenge, but alas it seemed like Percy was a better fighter than they realised. He held out his hand to help Tara out, she looked at his hand and back to him for a second, then accepted his hand. A moment of grudging respect emerging from the hunter.

"Percy wins! And now he has won 3 of the 5 fights, two more to go. Pheobe, your up next. Begin when you are ready."

The experienced hunter jumped down from the stands and immediately charged towards him, drawing twin hunting knifes as she ran. She caught Percy off guard with a barrage of slashes and flurries. But he parried each one of them. She jumped back, bringing out her bow and she fired a few arrows off at him which he moved to dodge, he sidestepped one, ducked under another and rolled away from the final one. While he was on the floor Pheobe charged him again bringing her knife down in an overhand swing. Sure to be a deciding blow.

He caught it. Pheobe's face was a one of shock. He turned and looked at her with the darkness in his eyes. The endless swirl of colours stared at her. He twisted his hand forcing Pheobe to drop one of the knives leaving her only with her left and as her other wrist went numb. It was his turn to release a barrage of assault on her which she could only parrey and dodge until finally the blade got through and hit her in the ribs. She grit her teeth through the pain and used it to motivate her. She jumped through it and grabbed Percy in a headlock. She flipped him onto the ground hoping to knock the wind out of him but instead he followed through and reversed the momentum. She landed on the ground and Percy caught her in his legs. He wrapped his leg around her throat leaving her in a triangle hold; he grabbed riptide and held it against her. She glared at him but refused to tap out. So he released her, and gave her knives back.

"In that case, take your weapons back and we'll start this fight again. No surprises this time."

Artemis was impressed. Pheobe refusing to tap out was stupid considering Percy had definitely won, so Percy decided to give her a second chance to try and beat him, this time using only blades. It was a very honourable move. The hunters felt the same way, however would they every admit that? No they wouldn't, they'll keep it to themselves.

"No boy, you won. It was a fair and good fight, where you came out victorious. I must respect that."

Everyone went silent. Never had Pheoble admitted defeat like that. She would usually take any chance she'd get to win. But this time she accepted just how outplayed she was and went with it.

She went over to Percy and held out her hand.

Percy smiled and took it. They shook hands and Pheobe returned back to the stands with her fellow hunters who were still in shock. All but one.

"Now its my turn fish breath."

Thalia had that wicked smile back, she drew aegis from her bracelet and her spear from her mace can and was ready to fight.

Percy smiled ready for the challenge as Thalia made her way to the circle.

Everyone was eagerly waiting with anticipation. Even Artemis was excited at the prospect of seeing these two fight.

Then a scream pierced through the camp.

Sorry guys, had to leave it like that. Hope you enjoy the cliff hanger. And I hope you enjoyed this chapter, its the first one with some proper action in with a while and I hope I managed to portray the fights well. And I also think that this is the longest chapter yet. Here's to many more, maybe. And to Keeperofmagick, once again great idea, I like the idea of giving him abilities linked with fish, but I think the completely changing gender idea interferes with my whole plan for the hunters/Percy relationship arc i'm going for but I like your style, and I might have to incorporate that as well in some way.

But until next time.

Adios and kachowabunga.