Ch44
Percy anxiously watched as various campers ran around to their positions. The atmosphere was intense as everyone ran about with their weapons in hand. Their scouts had reported the Titan Army was very close and a battle could start at any moment.
"Hey boss!" Blackjack landed not far from him. "They are about a few hours away."
He nodded his heart racing in his chest. "Good to know."
A few hours away. A few more hours to prepare. There had still been no signs of Annabeth, Lou, and Ethan meanwhile Silena was still locked up. The atmosphere at camp was still tense, Silena being the traitor shocked everyone and the impeding attack did not lighten any moods.
He walked around the camp until he found Alabaster talking to some of his siblings. "Go and reinforce the traps," Alabaster ordered. "Make sure all the wards are reinforced."
The son of Hecate looked up at him his brow furrowed. "The traps are all set, if they try to make it through the woods they'll have to go through an endless maze. Balthazar and the others are busy writing protective runes on everyone, we should be good."
He nodded. "Good. They should be here soon."
The two of them walked through the camp passing by more campers scurrying around with their weapons and armor. They found Chiron and Daedalus by the beach alongside Medea overlooking a large metal box.
Daedalus turned to him. "Ah there you are. Take this."
The man handed him what looked like a smart phone. "What's this for?"
"It'll activate the Talos." A gleam flickered in Daedalus' eyes. "Trust me it'll work. Me and Medea here have been working out the kinks."
"Indeed all the negative energy should be gone and has been programmed to defend the camp," Medea said.
Alabaster looked out at the sea. "Most of our forces are on land, we'll be stretched thin if we have to fight on the shores as well."
He looked at the phone in his hands and nodded. "I'll take are of it." As a son of Poseidon the sea was like second nature to him.
Chiron looked out towards the sea with a grim expression on his face. "We don't have any boats, hopefully we can take them out before they get to the shore."
His heart raced as he viewed the few mines they made float in the water. "I'll make sure they don't get on land." I'm a son of Poseidon I'll do all I can to defeat them on sea.
"We can also mount Pegasi to attack from the air," Alabaster said. "Me and my siblings can cast spells and rain down fire."
It should work. He really hoped everything did.
"I'll go check on our defenses," Medea said before turning around and walking away.
He and Chiron walked through the camp passing by various campers. "War is never easy," Chiron said. "But we can only prepare for so much."
He only nodded as his stomach felt as if a cage of butterflies had erupted inside of him. Just then a demigod came running to them. "Annabeth and them are back!"
"Oh thank gods," Chiron muttered.
They both ran to Zeus' fist where they found Annabeth, Lou, Ethan, and Bianca supporting each other. "L-Luke," Annabeth froze and swallowed her words as tears fell down her face.
"Get some medics here now," he ordered.
He looked at Ethan who had blood dripping from his eyes down his face. "Are you ok?"
The son of Nemesis smiled. "Just a little tired."
"He pushed himself too hard," Lou said.
"Al you and Lou bring him to the infirmary now," he said.
Alabaster nodded and quickly helped Ethan up. "We must bring balance," Ethan muttered as he was carried away.
Bianca di Angelo looked down her eyes looked as if she were close to tearing up. "My brother…He might come and fight."
"We'll keep an eye out for him," he said. "Are you ok to fight?"
Bianca looked up at him her gaze steely. "I am. They will pay for what they did to my brother."
The tone of her voice sent a shiver down his spine, for a moment he thought he was looking at Hades. "I'm going to review the defenses let me know if you need anything."
"I will," Bianca said as she walked towards Chiron.
Well at least they are back. He went over and reviewed the defenses. He could spot the various campers in defensive positions while Annabeth Chase spoke with her siblings. Something seemed different about her, a bit softer and humbler. Words he wouldn't normally associate with Annabeth.
After about a half hour of inspection Alabaster came up to him his armor covered in various magical runes. "They're approaching quickly."
He swore and drew Riptide. "Well it's now or never."
Chiron picked up his horn and blew it. The sound blared throughout the camp as everyone froze and gathered their weapons. Balls of fire flew at their positions only to turn to dust in midair.
"Everyone man your positions!" Chiron yelled.
The atmosphere was so thick he could cut it with a butter knife. It was then they heard the screams from the woods. Various humans and monsters screamed as the sound of explosions rippled throughout the area while more projectiles were fired at them only to be turned to smithereens.
"Our traps can only hold them for so long," Alabaster warned.
"So long as they take down as much of the enemy as they can we are good."
His heart raced in his chest as he looked at the tree line and saw a few monsters and enemy demigods limp out of the tree line looking half haggard or scared. Some fell to the ground while others were quickly taken down by the Apollo Cabin.
A monstrous roar ripped through the area as various figures emerged from the trees. At first he thought they were enemy demigods but he noticed they were limping and half rotting "Are those zombies?" He asked.
Ethan frowned. "Probably Bianca's brother. They are children of Hades after all so undead wouldn't be that surprising."
Great more trouble. The camp archers fired down at the zombies as dark green flames flew from the sky all while more enemy soldiers marched from the woods. Suddenly the ground shook and glowed bright purple as various letters in Ancient Greek glowed on the ground. Out of the corner of his eyes he could see Medea floating in the air which danced around her as she raised a metal rod in the sky.
"The undead shall not pass!" She roared. An ominous wind rippled throughout the area as the various zombies froze in their place before disintegrating. A otherworldly green aura enveloped the area as the undead slowly disintegrated.
"Lets go! Before they reorganize!"
Alabaster's cards flew through the air as they found Grover was leading the satyr in battle.
Pan emerged from Alabaster's cards "What do you need kid?"
Alabaster pointed to the row of enemies. "Destroy the enemy."
Pan grinned and took out a pair of pipes. "Grover Underwood would you do me the honor of playing with me."
Grover looked at Pan his gaze wide as he nodded repeatedly. "It would be my honor Lord Pan."
Pan laughed and the two played a sharp tune that reverberated throughout the area. The enemy's weapons flew through the air, some of them fell to ground screaming like lunatics. The mistform god then lunged at the enemy lines.
Using Riptide he knocked a demigod that tried to kill Castor from Dionysus only to be have the boy be protected by Alabaster's ward. "Stay close to the others," he told Castor. The son of Dionysus didn't need to be told twice and quickly ran back to their lines.
Alabaster drew a few runes in the air that hit him and Ethan and his body swelled with energy. "Don't use too much now," Alabaster said as his cards blasted a few enemy soldiers away with fire.
The first group of enemy demigods came at them. Alabaster knocked them back with a wave of green fire as he and Ethan descended up on them with their swords.
Out of the corner of his eyes Lou and the other children of Hecate. She along with the other children of Hecate were scattered all along their lines chanting spells and raining fire from the skies onto the enemy positions.
Medea's dragon tooth warriors sprung up from the ground charging at the enemy positions, there were hundreds of them easily doubling the amount of their forces. Meanwhile Circe used her magic to turn the enemy into guinea pigs.
Suddenly the trees shook as something ran through them. "GRAH!" A large monster that looked half woman and half dragon emerged from the tree line.
"Oh gods that's Kampe," Alabaster swore. "One of the jailors of Kronos."
The monster roared as it tore through their lines causing havoc. Various campers tried to fire at it while others tried to regroup.
He knocked down an enemy demigod. "We have to take that thing down. Alabaster can your siblings get me a lot of water?"
"We'll be on it." Alabaster turned to his siblings. "Everyone make water for Percy now! We have to take this thing down! Lou, Ethan, Balthazar support us!"
Ethan and Alabaster's siblings came running tot hem just as a torrent of water hit the area. His energy became renewed as the feeling of the sea hit him. Willing the water to rise he made a mini wave to knock Kampe down.
The monster screamed as she fell off balance. "Lets take her down!" He yelled as more water filled the area.
Bianca fired her arrows while Lou summoned sent green flames that made Kampe scream. Ethan and Balthazar parried her tails while Alabaster's cards blasted green energy at her face.
More water hit the area as Kampe charged at them. Using all of his powers he willed all the water to knock her down. We'll win this. Gripping his sword he charged at her head, the water along with Alabaster's spell enhancing his strenght and movements as he brought Riptide down on Kampe's neck. Ethan along with Alabaster brought their weapons down on her head. Kampe screamed as she was turned to dust.
His heart raced as the campers stared at them in shock. He raised his sword, so did Alabaster and Ethan. "For Olympus!" They yelled.
"For Olympus!" The campers cheered as they fought with a renewed vigor.
Suddenly the ground shook. "What's that?" More undead soldiers broke from beneath the ground while in the distance a figure emerged from the woods only to be incinerated by Medea's magic as soon as they set foot on the camp.
"BIANCA!" A young boy emerged from the woods.
"Oh gods what happened to him?"
Nico's face was covered with burns, his hair half burned off while his wide eyes contained a madness that sent a shiver down his spine. "I'M TAKING YOU BACK NOW!"
"Great he's still alive," Ethan muttered. "I thought I burned him enough."
He swore as he slashed at a telekhine that tried to attack them. "Everyone hold their positions!" He turned to Ethan. "Go and check the beach and alert me to any news. I doubt the Titan Army will be this easy."
Ethan nodded. "I will." The son of Nemesis then ran off as the battle around them continued.
Alabaster muttered a spell in Latin that blasted some monsters with fire. "We'll have to take him out before it's too late."
"Wait!" Bianca di Angelo ran up to them gripping her bow tightly. "Please don't kill him. Kronos is misleading him, we can still possibly save him."
The sincerity in her eyes moved something inside of him. "Fine," he sighed. "But I won't let our side to have too many casualties. If it's him or other the camp I'll chose the camp."
Bianca nodded. "I understand."
They ran through the crowds of undead slaying each one with their weapons. Nico di Angelo watched them with a half deranged look in his eyes.
"My precious!" Nico walked towards them and drew his sword with a crazed looked in his eyes. "Bianca they made you lie to me right? You didn't want to escape? They tricked you! That's what they always do!" His voice was rapid like a person trying to salvage a relationship that was long over.
He gripped Riptide and stepped forward. "Surrender now and we'll give you mercy."
Nico looked at him with a gaze that sent a shiver down his spine. "Stay away from my sister," the little boy growled.
"Oh I'm so scared," he said in a half patronizing tone. "Did Luke buy your clothes at Hot Topic?" He laughed along with Alabaster and a few other nearby campers. "Is this the little Ghost King?"
Nico's body shook as his eyes twitched. "Don't mention his name!" His voice was a mixture between a scream and a yell as his eyes began to water. "Luke is doing much for the world, Olympus will pay for what they did!" The boy let out a sob. "He was a real hero. He took off Artemis' brainwashing but little did he know that it ran deep…too deep."
"Nico for the last time I'm not brainwashed!" Bianca said sounding exacerbated. "I choose this path! Please stop this and come with me!"
Nico looked at her his gaze hurt. "The gods messed with our family. They hurt Luke and destroyed our family. I mean Luke had to kiss why would he do that if it weren't to help undue the brainwashing right?"
He looked at the boy curiously. Is something else going on that I don't know? It appeared as if Nico for whatever reason saw Luke as this great hero.
"We won't repeat ourselves," Alabaster said as a green aura enveloped his body. "Surrender now or we'll fight."
Bianca stepped forward. "Nico please just stop. Kronos and Luke are liars. Come with us, you'll be safe here."
Nico laughed maniacally. "They're the liars?" He shook his head. "Bianca the gods have constantly played with us and used us for their own designs." A wicked grin spread across his face. "I'll save you from them. I'll save your from those rotten gods and those bitch hunters!"
The son of Hades then charged at them with his sword. "Look out!" Alabaster blasted Nico back with a bolt of green lightning.
He gripped Riptide tightly. "Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way."
Nico di Angelo glared at them his eyes burning with anger and hatred as he charged at them with his sword in hand. "You'll all pay for brainwashing her!"
He charged at Nico with Riptide. "The only one brainwashed is you!"
Despite being younger than him Nico was quick and surprisingly skilled as the boy parried his attacks. He blocked a few attacks though and managed to keep up with Nico and landed a few hits on his arms.
"Nico please stop!" Bianca begged.
The son of Hades laughed like a maniac. "Come with me and it will stop."
He lunged at Nico who didn't raise his sword on time. Riptide hit the boy's wrist causing Nico to cry out in pain and drop the sword. He then kicked Nico to the ground and pointed his sword at him. "Last chance surrender now!"
Nico shot him a murderous gaze that looked half horrifying due to the burns. "I'll send you all to the Underworld."
A dark aura enveloped Nico as his blood fell to the ground. Picking up his sword he raised it in the air. "Those so called gods will pay the price for their crimes. I'll see to it that you all-"
Nico was then shot with an arrow in the shoulder. The son of Hades staggered back and dropped his blade his gaze turning watery. "B-Bianca."
Turning his head he saw Bianca with her bow in her hands tears falling down her face. "Nico if you don't want to stop then I will have to stop you. Please don't make me fire again."
Nico's body shook tears falling down his face as betrayal and anger flashed in his eyes. "Bianca how could-"
"Olympus!" Yelled a voice he thought he would never hear again.
He did a double take as he turned around and saw Clarisse with her spear in hand charging at Nico. She kicked the sad little boy in the gut and sent him flying. "I've seen dreams of what you did you brat." Clarisse spat on the ground. "Surrender why I still have mercy inside of me."
"Glad you're back," he said politely. Ok this kid is going to die now. He had never seen Clarisse this furious but the look in her eye would make any man shrink.
Clarisse gave him a curt nod her gaze hard with fury as she turned back to Nico and pointed her spear at him. "Last chance."
Nico's body shook as he pulled the arrow out of his shoulder. Blood fell from the boy's wound as the boy glared at them with a stony gaze. "I will see that the era of the gods ends. I will-"
Alabaster cut him off with a flick of wrist. "Incantare: Crucio!" Nico let out a scream as his body writhed in pain before he was flung against a tree.
The son of Hades glared at them, Bianca in particular. "I will never forgive Olympus for what they did! They've constantly ruined my family!" Nico's body shook as tears fell down his face.
"Nico wait!" Bianca called out but the shadows enveloped Nico and the boy disappeared into the shadows.
His heart raced as he looked around and saw the campers push back the enemy demigods and slay the monsters. "Bianca we'll talk about him later right now we have to-"
"Percy!" He quickly turned around and saw Ethan run up to him his face covered in sweat.
"What is it?"
The son of Nemesis ran up to him. "The Princess Andromeda is approaching quickly."
He swore. "I'll be there." His gaze drifted up to Clarisse and Bianca. "Can you two hold things here while we take down that ship? Don't worry about sending any reinforcements I can handle things in the sea."
Clarisse met his gaze and nodded. "We'll handle things from here."
Alabaster gripped his sword as he ran to the shores of the beach alongside Percy and Ethan. When the reached the shore they found the few defensive fortifications they made alongside a few campers in defensive positions.
"How many are there?" Percy asked.
"The Princess Andromeda has a lot of monsters on it from what we can see. They are unloading a few lifeboats with monsters as well," Ethan said.
In the distance they could see the Princess Andromeda slowly approaching with a few smaller ships by its side. "We need to take them out quickly," he said.
Percy paused as they looked at the large metal box and the pile of large rocks beside them. "It's now or never." He took out the button in his pocket and pressed it.
They stared at the box with trepidation as their hearts raced. The box shook as the Talos began to emerge. Come please work. He didn't doubt his aunt or mom but this was sort of a due or die moment for them.
The Talos began to emerge from the box. It was tall robot in the shape of a Greek warrior with glowing eyes and large arms and legs. Everyone looked up at the robot as its eyes glowed green. "Greetings campers I am Talos II how may I be of service?" It's voice was calm and professional like a customer service clerk.
Percy looked up at the robot. "Uh I need you to help us take down that Cruise ship. Can you throw those boulders at it?"
Talos nodded. "I will do as you command."
"Thanks. Also if any enemy demigod lands on the shores defeat them," Percy said.
"As you command." Talos then picked up one of the large boulders and threw at the Princess Andromeda. The boulder flew through the air and struck the Princess Andromeda in the hull.
The campers in the beach cheered as the Talos continued to throw boulders at the ship. "Al enhance us with your magic."
He nodded. Taking a deep breath he muttered every enhancement spell he knew. A green aura enveloped them all as the magical energy from his mother enhanced their powers. "That should hold us for a while."
Percy went over to Blackjack. "We'll fly together and I'll deal with them from the sea you two from the air."
Ethan gripped his katana. "Lets do this."
They quickly mounted the Pegasi and took flight as the Talos threw boulders into the air. The boulders made contact with the Princess Andromeda but the large cruise ship continued on its path while the smaller boats carrying an monsters of all kind.
"Alright I'll take care of the smaller boats!" Percy said before jumping into the water.
He began to mutter in Latin and Ancient Greek as his deck of cards danced around him. Below him he could see the water become agitated as willed the water to sink the smaller ships one by one.
"Hey I think I have another shot in me," Ethan said as he massaged his eye.
He looked at the son of Nemesis. "Are you sure? That attack takes a lot out of you?"
"I'll do my part," Ethan said as he drew his katana.
"Fine just don't push yourself too much," He said as he began to focus on the spell.
Down in the sea he could make out Percy flipping over the smaller boats with ease while shooting waves of water at the Princess Andromeda.
His cards flew in the air creating a green pentagram above the Princess Andromeda. Mother give me your strenght. Taking a deep breath he began to chant faster. The air around the area stiffened as dark clouds formed overhead.
It was then he noticed Ethan gripping his sword. "Bring justice," he muttered in Ancient Greek." The son of Nemesis lifted up his eyepatch as he swung his blade. A torrent of black flame hit the ship in the center and a loud explosion rippled throughout the area.
He raised his hand in the air and brought it down. "Incantare: Ignis coelestis!" The air tensed up as powerful wave of green fire struck the Princess Andromeda lighting it ablaze. The combined attacks struck the Andromeda just as the water beneath it began go tremble as a fist made of water hit the side of the ship knocking it off balance.
A large boulder then flew through the air and struck the Princess Andromeda. His hands shook as he focused his energy on another spell. Come on I need more. Taking a deep breath he extended his hand and raised up in the air. "Incantare: Tempestas!" Green lighting fell on the ship as he brought his hand down.
His arm shook as he gripped his Pegasus tightly as he watched the Princess Andromeda burn and hear the sounds of the enemy screaming in pain as a wall of water struck it on the side knocking it off balance and into the water.
"Good job Percy," Ethan muttered as the water around the ship moved and covered ship.
A smile spread across his face as he watched the monsters drown as they tried to escape the ship only to be consumed by the water or killed by Percy. "Yup that's Percy." The son of Poseidon moved through the water with the agility of a dolphin but the ferocity of a shark as he killed and took out any and monster that surfaced.
"Come on lets go help him clear up the enemy," he said.
Ethan nodded as their Pegasi descended. We did it. They had defended the camp and he was proud of it.
