Chapter 21

(Percy)

Percy didn't even have a chance to relax. Here he was, 2 hours from his meeting with Reyna, putting on some armour before taking on the centurions from each cohort.

He tightened the strap on his chest piece as his mind wondered to his conversation with Diana after the meeting.

(Flashback)

"Percy wait."

Percy, eager to get out the senate house had rushed away from his mother. But he stopped, waiting to hear what she had to say.

"I know what you're thinking and yes, that is Thalia's brother"

"Why didnt you tell me? And why does Thalia not know? She thinks that her brother is dead!"

Percy's voice was shaky. He knew how much Thalia missed her brother, she thought he was dead.

"I cant tell her, it has been forbidden. Zeus never explained why, but I think its to do with the great prophecy. I was promised they would meet again but I couldnt tell her, as much as I wanted to."

Percy looked unsure,

"Mum, I trust you, but this is not fair to Thalia. She will not be happy when she finds out you've been hiding this from her."

Diana looks down sadly,

"Trust me, I know. I love my lieutenant a lot, it will be difficult when she finds out I have been lying to her."

Percy hugs her gently, knowing that his Mum is just following what she was told.

(Flashback over)

Percy hears a giant horn sound and he steps out into the coliseum. It looks just like the one in real Rome, at least from the pictures that he had seen. But the stands were filled with hundreds of legionnaires, all curious to see this adopted son of a man hating goddess.

In the stands there is a large viewing box with two figures, one being Reyna and the other being a blond haired blue eyes boy, probably around 15, looking stoic alongside his fellow praetor.

'Must be Jason' Percy noted, thinking about how different Jason looked to his sister.

Reyna stepped forward,

"Welcome legionnaires, today we have something special. At the request of the goddess Lady Diana,"

Diana steps forward from next to Reyna as all of the legionaries bow.

"We will see her adopted son Percy Jackson face a centurion from each legion to ensure that he is worthy of joining us here at Camp Jupiter. So please give a warm welcome to our first centurian to Dakota, son of Bacchus and centurion of 5th cohort."

From the other side, out stepped Dakota.

He was a stocky kid with curly red hair, a cherubic face and a cheeful disposition. He looked about 15 but it was always hard to tell with demigods. He took a swig from a flash which confused Percy. Even if he was the son of Bacchus, surely he wasnt actually drinking alcohol. He nodded at Percy before drawing his blade. It was an imperial gold gladius which was partnered with a typical roman shield.

Percy acknowledged this and decided to just draw the one blade. There was a gasp throughout the crowd as he drew riptide, its celestial bronze greek design left a sour taste in many legionaries mouths. Following this, the crowd turned on Percy which brought a frown to both him and his mothers face.

Percy knew he had to put on a show to get these romans to like him, but also not embarrass their best fighters.

He was torn between two minds but was quickly snapped out of it when Dakota got bored and charged at Percy.

Percy quickly deflected the blade as the Romans cheered at what they thought was Dakota gaining the upper hand as he took the offensive against Percy. But in fact, he was only studying the way Dakota was fighting, he looked at each step he took and the motion of his stabs. Percy noticed that every time he stabbed, he brought his shield closer to his face leaving his legs unprotected.

Percy parried a few more hits but jumped back on the next stab, when Dakota overextended Percy swept out his legs and kicked away Dakota's gladius. As he tried to get up, Percy stamped down on his shield holding him down and held his blade to his throat.

"I yield" Dakota muttered, clearly unhappy with how easily he was beaten.

The crowd, which was at first silent at the quick victory, became very mixed.

Some were unhappy that one of their centurions were beaten with ease, but most respected the power and finesse this new fighter had.

Dakota walked slowly out of the colosseum and was replaced by the next fighter.

Out walked a blond boy with a cocky strut.

Percy face palmed knowing exactly what this meant.

"Please welcome Ray Stevens, son of Apollo."

Apollo had expressed to Percy in the past how he found that his sons could be... difficult. A lot of them could end up becoming cocky arseholes which annoyed both of them.

"Well well newbie, you seem to be the son of the worst twin archer."

Percy looked to the praetor box and saw Diana looking furious. So Percy was going to make this personal.

"I hope Apollo forgives me for this"

"Well well well, looks like another twat son of my uncle"

Ray looked furious,

"How dare you!"

He started to fire off arrows at Percy who used inhuman speed to deflect the arrows with his sword.

In Rays anger, he just kept firing arrows being stupid about it.

Eventually, he reached behind to grab an arrow but he had run out and now Percy smirked.

This is what he wanted, no one could touch him in close combat.

"What you going to do now? You've lost your bow, some come fight me. I'll even go easy on you."

As the fighting was going, Percy realised what the romans liked. They liked a show. If he wanted them on his side, he would need to be entertaining. So Percy did something stupid.

He put his weapon away.

Ray looked even angrier, but charged at Percy as quickly as possible with a short dagger that he pulled from his belt.

Sons of Apollo were fantastic at long range combat, but average at close range. But Ray seemed a little better than most.

He kept slashing away at Percy who was dodging waiting for an opening.

Then Percy dodged a little further away than normal so that Ray overextended. He then used his palm to smack the dagger out his hand before judo flipping him over his shoulder. Percy then put his foot to the son of Apollo's throat.

"Yield?"

Ray reluctantly nodded and the crowd cheered. Looks like they were enjoying themselves after all.

Percy helped him up before drawing him close,

"Disrespect my mother like that again and next time we fight I'll actually use a weapon."

The boy paled and nodded, before leaving the stage.

"Please welcome the centurion of Cohort 3, Isla, Daughter of Venus."

The crowd roared at Reyna's announcement. It was deafening.

Apparently this fighter was very popular. Out walked a very very pretty woman. She looked to be about 19 with long black hair and piercing kaleidoscope eyes that seemed to change colour. She was gorgeous. She walked towards Percy slowly, swaying slightly as she talked.

"Hello Percy, how are you?"

Percy smiled, and answered somewhat distractedly,

"I'm great thank you."

Then all of a sudden, she whipped a dagger from behind her back and swiped at Percy who dodged with his quick reflexes.

"HEY!"

Percy was angry at the sudden betrayal, but after she flashed him a smile his anger faltered a bit.

"Sorry Percy, you know how it is. You just can't resist me." She winked at him and he seemed to melt a bit.

She came at him again and all he could do was defend, he was distracted by her a lot. And she was also a very skilled fighter which made things doubly difficult.

But why was he so distracted?

Percy started to piece things together.

Daughter of Venus…

Distracting beauty…

She had the same affect the goddess had on people, yes to a lesser affect. But Isla had the power to just distract people with how pretty she was.

He was fighting it enough to defend but struggled past that.

"Well well Percy, you impress me, most people can't fight back this well against me."

Percy could reply, he was trying too hard to focus, and Isla could tell. She smirked and pushed forward.

They locked blades and stared into each other's eyes. Such pretty eyes. Then as the light hit them, they looked grey.

Grey eyes.

Just.

Like.

Her.

Percy steeled and suddenly all distractions were removed from his mind and he pushed forward.

Now he was on the offensive and she looked panicky.

She did not have to fight on the back foot very often it seemed like. It carried on for a little bit longer until a powerful strike from Percy knocked Isla's dagger to the ground and he held his sword at her throat.

"Yield?"

She nodded but smiled,

"I yield, but I enjoyed that fight. I must know at some point how you were able to stop being distracted. Not many can do that."

Percy forced a smile,

"I just had to clear my mind." He said cryptically.

"But you are the best fighter I've fought that isn't a hunter in a long long time. A lot better than some other children of Aphr… sorry I mean Venus, I've fought."

Isla nodded,

"I try to avoid my siblings, because of my power people assumed I was all talk no fight, so I like to prove them wrong."

Percy smiled,

"I think you'd make a great hunter of Diana."

She smiled,

"Maybe one day, but you've got a fight to carry on. And by the way, the crowd dont appreciate you beating me."

The crowd who had been silent at the loss of Isla quickly started booing as she walked away. They were angry. And they wanted to see Percy beaten. How could someone rock up and beat some of their best fighters on their first day? It was unacceptable, and they wanted to see him humbled.

"After that impressive performance, please welcome the centurion of cohort two, Hank, son of Mercury."

All of a sudden a boy about Percy's age ran out towards him as quick as anything.

Percy could do nothing but defend at the speed of his strikes and his movements.

Great, why is it all these centurions seem to have some sort of power like their parent that their siblings dont seem to

Thanks to Percy's reflexes, he was able to protect himself from the onslaught but it was only a matter of time he would get tired from this pace. Then Percy realised, the quicker that Hank was, the more momentum he would have.

As the fight was going on, Hank had started to put more power and pace into his strikes which Percy had been successfully defending up until now. On the next particularly powerful lunge, instead of deflecting the blow. Percy ducked as the blade cut off a few strands of his hair. Hank didn't expect that and the momentum of the blade caused him to stumble giving Percy the opening that he needed. He ran and charged into the son of Mercury's back and shoved him onto the floor before holding his chest down with his foot and a blade to the throat.

"I yield." Hank mumbled, unhappy with losing.

It seemed like these centurions from cohort three and two didn't lose very often.

Percy was looking forward to fighting the best fighter from cohort one.

The crowd booed as Hank walked away, another fighter unsuccessful.

Reyna stepped up to announce once again, but with a lot less enthusiasm.

"Please welcome the centurion of cohort one, Octavian, legacy of Apollo."

The crowd went mild as the scrawny legacy stepped out in the same attire as earlier.

Percy looked at him confused,

"Seriously? You're the best fighter in cohort one."

Octavian angrily stormed forward,

"Being centurion is not all about strength." He said before swinging his sword wildly at Percy who sidestepped the strike.

He then tripped Octavian up and held a blade to his throat in the quickest fight of the night.

"Yield?" Percy said bored and once again the crowd cheered after a night of booing.

Octavian was red in the face with anger as he stood up.

"How dare you embarrass me like that, you will pay for what you have done to me."
Percy just snorted as Octavian turned and walked away.

He turned to the audience who after seeing him embarrass Octavian, and display his skills to everyone. They cheered for him and gave him a standing ovation. Everyone had come around to support Percy Jackson.

Well.

Most of them had.

(Reyna)

Reyna had been impressed by Percy Jackson. She still hated him after what he did to her and her sister's home in the sea of monsters, but she was impressed by him. She looked to her left and saw Diana beaming with pride in which Reyna was shocked. The gods were never this involved with their kids. Never cared that much, and yet, Diana was here supporting her son like no tomorrow. There was something odd there, and Reyna will find out what. She looked to her right and saw Jason. But he looked expressionless. His knuckles were white from squeezing the arm of his chair.

There was something in his eyes.

It looked like jealously.

He had been here for years, he was the son the Jupiter. The king of the gods. And yet this upstart walks in and beats most of the leaders of the Camp.

Reyna watched Jason stand up to make an announcement that she had no idea about.

"Congratulations Percy."

Jason said with contempt as Percy turned around to face them confused.

"But how about we truly test your skills, I would like to fight you right here right now."

The crowd went silent, Jason was powerful. The most powerful one at the camp. And also maybe the best fighter behind potentially Reyna. Yet here he is challenging a newbie. Admittedly a very skilled newbie, but someone who was not even formally part of the legion yet.

Reyna watched as Percy, who looked tired, smile widely before shouting up to the praetor box.

"Jason, son of Jupiter, I've heard a lot about you in my few hours here. I've been told you're the most powerful demigod alive, the best fighter, I even heard someone call you the chosen one. How about you come show me if what I've heard was true or not."

Percy who already had one sword in his hand clutched at his necklace as a gorgeous sword emerged.

Percy smirked and Jason looked furious, before flying down to the arena.

(Percy)

"No fatal wounds, no powers. First one to get the other to yield wins."

With the rules established, Jason began to rush Percy. He flipped a coin in mid-air and it became a sword.

Damn that's cool. Percy thought begrudgingly before getting into a defensive position ready to study how Jason fought.

He deflected the first strike which was powerful but lacked technique. Percy frowned.

"Worried are you Jackson." Jason said cockily after seeing Percy frown.

Percy stayed on the defensive easily deflecting the strikes.

"I expected better from the Son of Jupiter. Especially the Praetor of this camp."

Jason's eyes flared with anger and he backed away from Percy. He flipped his sword and it became a spear as the combat changed. Jason was hoping that the change would throw off Percy who continuously parried. Not attacking yet.

"What the hell are you doing? Why aren't you attacking?" Jason was frustrated. He couldn't land an attack on Percy who was intent on purely defending. Not one attempt at Jason had been made. Jason brought his spear downwards as Percy caught the spear in between his two swords.

"I didn't want to embarrass the Praetor on my first day, but considering he's being a dick, im going to change that."

Then Percy pushed back and was like a whirlwind. Jason was struggling to defend the strikes, all of them had power and precision, and was tiring him. Percy was expressionless as he pushed harder, still not going at 100%. But then something went wrong. Percy struck Jason's spear with his chimera sword (one he still needed to think of a name for) and he felt a shock as his arm go numb. Percy had no choice but to drop the sword as he tried to regain feeling in his left arm. Percy's eyes narrowed at the slight blue sparks that were travelling up the spear and Jason's passing guilty look. But that was replaced with a smirk as he pushed a slightly shaken Percy who felt like his nervous system was fried.

This cheating bastard

Percy thought, just trying his best to defend with his slower movements and one sword. He knew he would recover, but that cheating manoeuvre had given Jason a second wind, and Percy a big problem.

I have to end this now.

Percy deflected a couple more blows until Jason overextended on a thrust. Percy knew he wouldn't be able to win if he hadn't recovered, he simply couldn't put the normal force to disarm Jason and knowing the children of Zeus/Jupiter, he would not quit while he still had his weapon.

So he pulled the spear towards him and punched Jason with as much force as possible. With the shock still affecting him, it wasn't much but it was enough to stagger Jason. Percy then pushed the spear into the ground and pulled it like a lever. This send Jason flying over his head and Percy stood up facing the praetor. Jason stood shakily with his spear in front of him, facing Percy who looked furious at the cheating Jason had done during what was supposed to be a fair fight. Percy looked around at the stadium, all of the legionaries were whispering, doubting the strength of their Praetor. How could a newbie come in and beat him? Doubt was settling in and Percy knew if Jason lost, then there would be a power vacuum with a lot of people questioning the leadership.

Percy sighed, knowing what he had to do.

He held out his hand to Jason and uttered one question.

"Draw?"

Percy knew he had Jason's number, but beating him would cause more issues than its worth. However, he refused to lose to someone who cheated, so this was the best he could do.

Jason looked warily, but shook his hand as the crowd cheered.

They were happy at a fantastic fight and presumed Percy called for a draw thinking he would lose eventually.

Their faith in the praetor was kept, and now they respected Percy Jackson for putting on a show.

Still gripping his hand, Percy pulled Jason close.

"I did that so they would not doubt you, you owe me. You are talented I will admit but if you every pull a stunt like your trick with the lightning again, or cheat in a spar with me ever again, then I will make you regret it in every way I can."

Jason gulped but looked him in the eyes,

"I'm sorry, I get prideful sometimes, it was not the roman way to cheat so I apologise. Please forgive me."

Percy nodded for now as Jason lifted up his hand to the crowd as Reyna began the announcement.

"Welcome Percy Jackson, Son of Diana to Camp Jupiter!"

That night was celebrated, they burnt the roman symbol into his arm alongside the symbol of the moon. Octavian was angered to see Percy not flinch. But then they had dinner, and it was crazy. Everyone sat together as food flew everywhere, being delivered to everyone who had different orders. And then that night, Percy had to say goodbye to his mum.

"I'm going to miss having my son around, promise me you'll call when you can, and keep me updated."

Percy nodded and embraced his mum,

"Of course I will, if I find a way to sneak out of the camp, i'll visit you when you're nearby."

Diana laughed at her sons antics as she pulled away.

"I've got to go now, but I love you son, enjoy your time here."

Percy smiled as she flashed away.

"Lets hope it doesn't end as badly as the last one."

Oh how wrong he was.