Percy was silent as he stared outward at the portal containing the sight of his home being burnt to the ground. Through his hazy, tearful vision he could see a number of demigods, his friends, dead on the blood-soaked ground. The Big House, the pavilion, his cabin, everything was being looted and destroyed by the Orcs. In the middle of it all stood Polemus, holding the head of the person Percy considered a second father for Olympus to see.
"Rome is next!" The spirit of war screamed, raising Chiron's decapitated head to the Heavens. The demon was even sadistic enough to let the blood of the centaur rain down on his face, soaking in his victory.
The son of Poseidon, still chained to his chair down in Tartarus, could only watch as the image of his home faded away, turning back into a swirling red portal that a plethora of Orcs continued to walk through, their next destination New Rome.
"What a show that was." Hybris giggled, leaping off the demigod's lap. "It was too quick to be honest with you. I suppose though that your camp couldn't put up too much of a fight however considering what you all have been through the past couple years."
Percy, too enraged to even utter words, continued to glare at the red portal with bloodshot eyes. Never in all his life had he held such a feeling of hatred, such loathing.
"Oh? Are you angry?" The Goddess taunted, kneeling down at his eye level. "Are you going to give a speech or something about how I'll rue this day?! How we won't succeed in bringing down Olympus?!"
The son of Poseidon finally ripped his eyes away from the portal, turning them slowly to the Goddess. She subconsciously looked away slightly when he looked directly at her. The look in his eyes was anything but what she expected. She thought she would see hate or sadness in them but instead all she saw was an empty sea of green. A dead sea that held no ounce of mirth.
"Not today." He whispered faintly, cocking his head slightly. "Not tomorrow. But one day…I'll kill all of you."
Hybris tried not to notice the goosebumps that ran across her skin, deciding to hide it with a smile that didn't fully reach her eyes. For some reason, despite her and her husband's literal millennia of planning, she knew this demigod would deliver on that promise. The look on his face, a look of resolve, promised such a thing.
"You won't succeed." she whispered back, hoping her words would deteriorate his will. "You're already too late. Your home is destroyed and soon Rome will be as well. My husband will carve a path of destruction across the entire continent to reach it. Millions will die and millions more will be enslaved under his iron hand."
"We'll see…" His only response was before his eyes clouded over once again, ending their little conversation. The demigod needed to preserve what little strength he had left in him if he was to make his escape anytime soon. Controlling the poison in his body was taxing, to say the least.
The Goddess huffed indignantly, shaken by the demigod's seemingly steadfast willpower. She would've thought that seeing his home destroyed and friends killed would weaken him beyond repair. She should've known better than to think she could break a human spirit. They were nasty little creatures that never knew when to give up.
Smirking at a thought that suddenly formed in her head, she looked over at her knife. If not even his home being destroyed could break him or the poison running through his veins, maybe a good old-fashioned method might do the trick.
"I'll break you, Perseus. I can promise you that." She said, picking up the knife and giving the demigod a sadistic smile. Soon, the only sounds that filled the cavern were of Orcs marching out to the mortal world and of a demigod grunting in pain from the torture he would be receiving for a long, long time.
-Scene Change-
Silence echoed throughout the small office of the Praetorium. Demigods, both Greek and Roman, sat around the wooden desk with their heads held low. It had only been a couple of hours since Camp Half-Blood had fallen to the hands of their enemy. Blood still stained their skin and their hands still shook from the adrenaline and fear.
The daughter of Ares swirled her cup of water absentmindedly, unable to get Chiron's face out of her mind. She remembered the look he gave her just before he died. He looked as if he had accepted his fate, knowing that his death would help the campers escape. But that was what pissed her off the most though. Chiron didn't have to die. If only they had more time to prepare or if the Gods had helped, he along with a lot of her friends would still be here. Camp Half-Blood would still be here.
"Clarisse?" A voice broke her train of thought, causing her to look up from the cup. Noticing that all eyes were on her, she cleared her throat before answering the question the Praetor of New Rome had asked.
"The battle was quick. Only an hour or so I think. I remember a red portal showing up on the hill over Camp. We formed our lines at the bottom of the hill before thousands of these ugly grey human-looking things came out of it."
"Like the one that followed all of you through our portal." Reyna stated to which Clarisse nodded her head.
"There were Trolls too. Much taller than your average Cyclops." Katie Gardener pitched in, her voice low and hoarse. Her eyes were bloodshot too, as if she had been crying only moments before.
"The worst one though was that man." Travis said, rubbing his arm to rid himself of the goosebumps.
"Man? What man?" Dakota asked.
"It wasn't a man. He was too powerful. Had to be a God." Clarisse replied, remembering how he had sent a shockwave across the entire battlefield with a snap of his fingers.
"He was the one who looked like the leader. Even killed Chiron."
The room grew silent once more at that revelation. Even the Romans were shocked to hear that the greatest teacher of heroes was dead. Whoever this God was, he was surely powerful. A true threat to New Rome.
Reyna leaned back in her chair, thinking what her next move should be. It was obvious that the true threat to New Rome was that unknown God. She wished the Gods could offer a clue about who he exactly was but the Greek's word would have to suffice for now. What they needed now, however, was a plan.
That God would be at the walls of New Rome soon with thousands of the same type of monster Clarisse had killed earlier. If they wanted any hope of defeating such an army, they needed to prepare for battle quickly.
"We need to send scouts across the country to find out the enemy's position. I want them on eagles before sunset." Reyna commanded one of the Centurions of the first Cohort who immediately bowed his head before exiting the room.
"Both the city and the camp will be on high alert from here on out. I want constant patrols both on the ground and in the air around the hills. No one goes in or out without me hearing. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, Praetor!" The rest of the Centurions saluted before filing out of the room, leaving only the battered and bloodied Greeks inside the office.
"So what now?" Nico asked. He knew Reyna wouldn't kick them out of the city. She had promised Chiron to allow them to stay if anything were to happen to the camp. But there weren't many of them left to help out in any significant way. All they were essentially were extra mouths to feed.
Reyna sighed, pinching the bridge of her brow.
"That is up to you. I promised Lord Chiron that I would keep you all safe if your camp were to fall. From my point of view, I see only two options for you. Stay in the inner limits of New Rome where you will be safe. For how long I don't know. Or you can join the legion and help us Romans fight. The choice is yours." The Praetor finished, looking out to the Greeks who held a mixture of emotions written across their faces. The one defining look that all of them held however was determination. She already knew their answer based on that alone.
"I'll fight." Clarisse was the first to step forward.
"Me too." Nico pitched in, much to Will Solace's annoyance.
"Guess you'll need medics." He said, stepping up by the son of Hades's side.
Soon enough, all the remaining Greek demigods offered their swords to New Rome, promising to protect it with all their heart. The daughter of Bellona was slightly amazed at the Greeks. Even when their numbers had been eradicated and their home destroyed, they still had enough strength in them to fight. To fight for Romans, their once mortal enemies, no less.
"More and more I see how Percy's leadership molded you all." She thought to herself, standing up from her seat.
"Then I'll let it be known to the legion that you all will be joining. Typically, we allow the cohorts to select their candidates but seeing as the fifth was the first to allow a Greek in their rank, I'd like to keep the tradition alive."
"Percy's cohort when he was here." Nico whispered, seeing the confused looks on his friends' faces. Following the Roman leader through the streets of New Rome toward Camp Jupiter, they passed by familiar architecture so similar to their own yet having distinguished Roman aspects to it. It was beautiful, to say the least. None of them, besides Nico, had ever seen the city before and were amazed to see all the amenities that came along with it.
"A college? Shops. Restaurants. Beautiful girls. You sure we're making the right decision in joining the legion? Travis Stoll muttered to his brother as he waved at a girl who was leaning out a window looking down at them.
"No backing out now. We promised." Katie slapped the son of Hermes's shoulder as she dragged him along, much to his displeasure.
"Never thought I'd be back here." Nico said from Clarisse's side, pulling his black hoodie over his head.
"None of us did." The daughter of Ares replied, her tone distant. "But it's the only way forward. Our only way in reclaiming our home."
Will, coming up alongside the pair, let out a small, almost bitter laugh. "I don't know what crazier. The fact that we're actually doing this, or the fact that I'm agreeing to it. I mean, after seeing that army, do we really have any hope of succeeding?"
Clarisse glanced over at Will, her expression hardening. "You don't get to question it, Solace. We do what we have to. The alternative is just waiting around for them to come and finish the job. That's not how I fight."
Will opened his mouth to retort, but Nico cut him off. "She's right. We either fight, or we die waiting for someone to come save us. There's no one left. We don't have that luxury anymore."
This was the final line of defense. There was nothing defending Olympus if that God managed to raze New Rome to the ground. There were no Olympians coming to their rescue and no Percy Jackson swooping in to save the day. All they had was each other.
Will's shoulders sagged slightly, his usual optimism faltering for just a moment. He had always been the one to keep the morale up, the one to make sure everyone remembered that there was always a way through. But this... this felt different. The weight of the situation was pressing down on him, and he didn't have the answers this time.
"Yeah," he said finally, his voice quieter than before. "I get it. It's just… we haven't seen an army like that before. New monsters and Gods to face that we've never heard before. Even if we manage to win... what then? There's no going back to how it was before."
Clarisse's gaze softened for the briefest moment, but only for a heartbeat. "No," she agreed, her voice steady. "But maybe that's the point. Maybe, when this is all over, we make something new. Something better. Together."
Nico nodded, his dark eyes looking back at the bustling city of New Rome off in the distance as they began to enter the outer limits of Camp Jupiter. He could see the cabins of the cohorts and the faint clattering of weapons clashing amongst one another. No doubt the legionaries were training and preparing for battle. "We've lost everything else. We can't afford to lose this, too."
Will nodded, taking in Nico's words. He knew they were right, but the thought of facing an army unlike any they had seen before, with no reinforcements from Olympus, was a hard pill to swallow. A pill that they had to swallow many times before. Still, as he looked at his friends, he couldn't deny the fire in their eyes. They weren't just fighting for survival anymore. They were fighting for a future. A future where both Greeks and Romans could thrive together.
As they reached the main entrance of Camp Jupiter, the air was thick with the scent of smoke and the distant clang of swords. A handful of legionaries marched by, their armor gleaming in the sunlight, their expressions hard with purpose. It was a reminder of what was at stake. The safety of this camp, the legacy of the Romans, and even the last bastion of the Greek and Roman world itself.
Reyna led them forward, passing through the impressive gates into the heart of the camp. There, amidst the training grounds, they could see Roman soldiers drilling with spears, swords, and shields, sparring in small groups, their discipline a stark contrast to that of the Greeks. They had always been known for their chaotic but fiercely passionate style of combat, something Percy had most certainly shown them during his tenure here. Here, however, in Camp Jupiter, it was the exact opposite. The Romans were the epitome of structure and discipline. It was evident in the precision of their drills, the way each soldier moved with synchronized intent, like gears in a machine that had been forged through years of history and battle.
As they walked deeper into the camp, Clarisse couldn't help but watch with a mixture of admiration and curiosity. She had never been one to follow rules, but the discipline of the Roman soldiers and this camp was something else. It was uncomfortable, however. Looking behind her at her friends she could tell that they felt the same way. It was so different from Camp Half-Blood. So much colder for lack of a better term. Back at their camp, it felt like a home. A place you could feel comfortable in. Camp Jupiter, however, was the opposite. This place was meant only to train soldiers for war. To forge a man into something that he'd never thought possible of himself.
"Welcome to Camp Jupiter." Reyna said, stopping in the center of the camp, her voice firm yet tinged with a note of pride. This is where we make soldiers out of demigods. Where we forge leaders the likes of Julius Caesar and Marcus Aurelius."
"Those guys have nothing on Alexander the Great." Connor quipped, causing Reyna's wolf-like eyes to dangerously flash in his direction, shutting him up.
"But first, you'll need to prove you can be soldiers. I've assigned you to the Fifth Cohort. You'll train, eat, and live by the legion's standards. Consider this your first test."
The group of Greeks stayed silent as they watched a man, adorned in polished imperial Gold armor, come out from one of the barracks behind Reyna. His expression was tense and unreadable. His posture rigid and radiating authority.
"This is Marcus, centurion of the Fifth Cohort. He'll be responsible for integrating you into the legion. Follow his command. I'll stop by every once in a while to see how you all are doing but for now, he'll be the one that you follow and learn from." Reyna said, patting Marcus on the shoulder before leaving the camp.
Silence rang through the air as everyone watched the daughter of Bellona leave. It seemed with her departure, things were really starting to settle in. They were actually going to do this. To join the Roman legion, something no Greek besides Percy had ever done before.
Marcus's sharp gaze swept over the Greeks, his expression betraying nothing as he measured them. His golden armor reflected the sunlight, casting a stark contrast to the blood and dirt-streaked clothes of the newcomers. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight that demanded obedience.
"The Fifth Cohort does not tolerate weakness," he began, his tone clipped and precise. "You'll be held to the same standards as any other legionnaire, regardless of where you came from. Fail to meet those standards, and you won't just embarrass yourselves—you'll dishonor the cohort, the legion, and this camp. I won't allow that."
Clarisse stepped forward, her jaw set and her eyes blazing. "Don't think we're newbies to this kind of stuff. We've fought just as many battles and killed just as many monsters as you."
Marcus's lips twitched—whether in approval or amusement, it was hard to tell. "Good. You'll start by proving you belong. Training begins at dawn. Until then, find your quarters and get some rest. You'll need it."
He gestured to a younger legionnaire standing nearby. "Lucius, show them to their bunks."
The demigod, a son of Mercury by the looks of him, wordlessly nodded before leading the Greeks to their barracks. The group followed closely behind, their steps heavy with the weight of the daunting task ahead. Each Roman they passed looked at them with a mixture of suspicion and curiosity, and the whispers that followed them only deepened their unease. Sure, the Greeks were on friendly terms with them, especially after the events of the last war but this was a different situation. Romans were very particular about who joined the legion and to have this many Greeks suddenly join…must've come to a shock to a majority of them.
Entering the Fifth Cohort barracks, they noticed rows of neatly made cots and footlockers. It was a far cry from the cozy, personalized cabins they had once called home. The place smelt of sweat, leather, and iron—a testament to the relentless training and discipline that defined Camp Jupiter. They all exchanged uneasy glances, each of them realizing just how far out of their comfort zones they truly were.
Lucius turned to face them, arms crossed. "This is it. Your bunks are over there." He gestured to a line of empty cots along the far wall. "The rest of the cohort is on a march so they won't be back for a couple of hours. Until then, make yourselves at home. Dinner is at eight so be ready by then."
The son of Mercury offered them a sly smile, so similar to that of the Stoll brothers, before leaving them alone in the barracks to get situated.
Laying down on the cots with a sigh, Clarisse tried to get comfortable. "Feels like boot camp," she muttered, her voice tinged with both disdain and grudging respect.
"Guess that's the point." Will muttered as he sat down on his own bed.
"No beautiful girls. No good food. Is it too late to turn back now?" Travis asked, earning a slap on the back of his head from Katie.
"This place is so... rigid. How did Percy survive this?"
"He thrived," Nico answered, looking out the window toward the field of Mars. He wasn't here for long when Percy had been but he had heard the stories. He turned the Fifth into a powerhouse of cohort, earning its prestige back when he recovered their eagle. If they wanted the Romans' respect and be admitted into their ranks, they'll need to have the same audaciousness Percy had.
"He's right. No more complaining." Clarisse pitched in. "If we're going to survive here, we need to prove to these guys that the Greeks are just as strong as they are."
Her words were met with a few nods and murmurs of agreement. Slowly, the group of newcomers began to settle into their new surroundings, their exhaustion finally catching up with them. But as they drifted off to sleep, one thought lingered in all their minds:
The war wasn't over. It was just beginning.