A/N Music for this chapter: a classical playlist for a prince building his empire

Chapter 17

Percy Jackson vs Viviane part 3:

Kingless World

Many ancient cultures have attributed magical and esoteric powers to the moon. From werewolves to Artemis to Khonsu and vampires. Something about that pale orb that orbited the earth called to people, caused them to imagine and to inspire.

So it was under the light of the blue moon that the 4th bout of Ragnarok reached its finale and the moon would be there to witness who would win.

The mythical Avalon was called upon and drawn into reality from its slumber. The castle's walls, interior and soldiers were all constructed from the fragile light of the moon. And for as long as the moon shines, the feeble illusion of Avalon would stand and allow people to marvel at what could've been.

And marvel they did. The spectators watched the scene unfold with open mouths. The lake itself was still there but Avalon's throne room was also present, occupying the same space like a ghostly reflection of what should've been.

From the water rose moonlight warriors from the ages of long gone, yet like the fabled castle, the moon allowed them to rise once more. Standing in front of the throne, Viviane, despite all her wounds, still tried to keep up her regal appearance.

Perseus Jackson was outnumbered, yet she couldn't help but to have an ominous feeling about this.

"The winner of this battle will be Percy," Annabeth insisted. She wasn't sure who she was talking to, her friends had become a blur in the background, unable to keep up with her despair.

But she knew it in her heart. In Alaska Percy had taken out a similar group of enemies with ease, and that was without the Styx's curse. Now, fully powered, all he had to do was land a fatal blow.

"You think she'll win?" Hermes asked Zeus.

"Obviously," Zeus slammed his fist down on the side of this throne. "Don't bother me with these questions."

"Styx's curse will be a wall." Hermes idly noted. "If even the holy Excalibur can't pierce it."

"All she needs to do is strike once at the right spot."

Loki held his head tighter. The crows next to him kept murmuring about the odds but Loki didn't care about any of that. The scene that was on display was one he was certain wouldn't want to miss for the world.

A chance to behold both the Greek demigod of the sea, powered by the river Styx and the mythical Avalon and Excalibur in battle was something he wouldn't want to miss for the world.

The Greek was slowly draining his soul to drive Viviane this far, but in turn Viviane pulled her final and only trump card. A desperate move from either side.

The winner of this battle would be whoever was desperate enough.

"The final curtain is about to fall for either of our warriors," Heimdal said, flying above the towers of Avalon. "Percy Jackson is holding himself together, but how long until Viviane finds that one spot?"

"Booo!" The gods pointed their thumbs down.

"On the other hand," Heimdal continued. "The lady of the Lake lost her eye and her attacks failed to keep up. How long until even the moon's power will fade?"

"Booo!" humanity cried out.

Not wanting to let him finish his speech, Percy surged forward, practically gliding over the water.

Around him the ghost warriors sprung to life from all angles and blocked his direct path to Viviane.

'She must be in a terrible condition if she's leaving the fighting to her minions,' Percy parried a sword from a ghost warrior and whirled around to dodge a spear being jabbed into his side.

More warriors jumped into the fray and Percy was forced to spin around like a tornado, blocking and parrying attacks from every angle.

A warrior wearing a mask of a lion wielding a spear charged at him but Riptide tore through him before he could hit. The ghost evaporated into shattered moonlight.

A sharp pain hit Percy in the foot. A hook on a chain had buried itself into his flesh and was pulled back. The blinding flash of his flesh being torn made him bite his tongue. He flicked his wrist and caused the water to explode around him, temporarily getting rid of any attackers along the way.

They too turned into moonlight mist and scattered on the water's reflection. But as these warriors scattered, more arose from the lake's surface.

Would be heroes of ages long gone charged at him. These weren't legionnaires who drew their strength from numbers but mountains of their own right.

Nets, javelins, scimitars and swords all flashed pale white under the moon's light and lashed out at him like a nest of vipers. All of them paled in comparison to Excalibur, yet they were still sharp as ever.

Flesh was ripped away at his shoulder, a part of his heel was carved off, poison was thrown into his left eye and ate away at it.

But the Styx kept her promise and dutifully healed all the flesh taken from him, not once allowing him to lose consciousness despite the agony.

Percy made big strides forward and slashed with Riptide. He tore through 4 apparitions at once and charged towards Viviane.

The Lady of the Lake had been watching his fight with a cold stare, studying his battle style for any imperfection to capitalize on.

"So that's it?" Percy spat out between gasps. He glared at the Lady of the Lake. "You're just going to send your minions after me? How's that chivalry, huh? Shouldn't a leader be at the front?"

The human side of the audience booed in agreement.

Viviane anxiously stared at the demigod. Despite the relentless wave of Avalon's defenders charging at him he was steadily wading through them and getting into her direction.

There was no doubt in her mind that the demigod would win in a 1v1 confrontation. He was ramping up significantly in both power and rage. The water obeyed his command like it was another limb and swallowed his assailants.

She clutched Excalibur tighter, trying to feel the warmth and hope of its former wielder once again.

The blade lay cold within her hands, its spirit exhausted and the memory of the king fading.

Viviane's fingers grew hot from how hard she was tight the sword. She swung it into the demigod's direction. The blinding flash that shot out of it tore through her own armies as it headed for Percy.

That was okay, those warriors were only draining her and she needed every bit of magic herself.

Percy dodged the beam by diving to the left and then charged forward, holding Riptide in front of him like a spear.

Viviane knocked the blade away and tried to move forward, but found herself backed against the moonlight throne.

Without a way to back off, Viviane decided to do the only thing she could do. Press forward.

But Percy didn't give way. In an almost monstrous way he kept attacking. Her blade cut through his shoulder.

Excalibur seared into his soul yet he pressed forward, howling like a mad wolf and pushed Riptide in her right arm at the cost of sinking deeper into Exalibur's blade. The demigod smiled gleefully as he saw her flesh separate under the weight of Riptide.

"You're a savage!" Viviane growled. She commanded the water to push Percy Jackson away and pulled her sword out of his shoulder.

Percy rubbed his shoulder, anguish carved into his face yet his eyes didn't dim in the slightest. "I don't care about your stupid king. All I want is for humanity to win. For that, we'll do anything, gods be damned."

Like a daemon the Greek went on the attack again. Like a mad dog without a leash his sword was desperate to taste her flesh.

Viviane was forced on the defensive and still suffered losses. Percy was simply a better swordsman and more importantly, he had nothing to lose.

Excalibur tore off a leg and he'd use the water to push him forward until his leg was restored. He lost his sight and he'd fight like a tornado, indiscriminately hacking away at everything in his vicinity until the Styx healed his sight.

The water became thick around the throne. Gold and black swirled around each other like an unholy yin and yang.

Viviane was bleeding from over a dozen cuts across her body. Her dress was tattered and her regal facade thoroughly shattered. The huge Excalibur only barely managed to help survive the onslaught, yet it too was growing weaker.

Both fighters were looking awful and took a few seconds to breathe before they continued their storm. Percy took these sparse few seconds to lick his wounds while Viviane tried to look for a solution.

Viviane looked up at the sky.

Above dark clouds began to move in front of the moon.

Magic began to weaken. Avalon was fading. The castle walls grew dim and the empty throne became a reflection.

Viviane wouldn't last much longer. Screw that, she was out of breath and nearly out of power.

She was vaguely aware of the audience and Heimdal talking about the end drawing near. The gods looked at the fight in disdain, the humans with anger.

Viviane rose to her feet in anguish. None of this was right. This wasn't like the duels of old, this was a cage fight between two desperate animals.

In front of her the demigod glared at her, most likely feeling the same animosity she felt. Yet he also seemed far more at ease with the situation, as if he was familiar with it all.

The Styx must be eating away at his soul, how could he fight so carelessly despite that?

In front of her Percy also rose to his feet. He was mostly healed up again. But his soul was tethering on the edge of annihilation. If he didn't finish her off within the next minute and cut off the link he'd die.

But Viviane knew that she couldn't last 1 minute herself. The demigod's attacks were too fast and too brutal. In truth, every second of this short intermezzo was to her advantage, and although it wasn't honorable, she could wait for her opponent to die.

What to do?

She didn't have long to think about it. In fact, the thought immediately left her head as she felt a horrible sharp pain tear through her chest.

Viviane's vision swam, yet she managed to look down and see a blade dug straight through her chest.

In front of her the demigod still stood. It was only then that Viviane realized the trick.

A mist clone, again? How underhanded.

"It's over," Percy murmured. "Your ideals end here. Humanity chooses its own path, free of kings or gods."

Behind her the demigod drove the sword deeper through her chest.

Light began to leave Viviane's eyes, the throne was fading alongside it, now nothing more than a demented memory.

No. Viviane thought to herself. Excalibur began to glow within her hand. I don't want to lose.

But she had already lost. Not fairly, and not as it should've gone but Viviane knew it was the end of her, and alongside her. Avalon would fade from memory.

So this is humanity?

The sword began to glow brighter.

No. I can't let it end like this. Viviane clutched the sword and raised it, tentatively using both of her hands and calling upon the last of her own and the blade's strength.

Throughout the entire fight Viviane had observed the demigod's movements and had been looking for that one spot. The weak spot of the Styx's curse.

Calling upon the heroes of old wasn't just an offensive move, she had carefully taken note of every strike and which parts of Percy's body weren't vulnerable.

She was certain she knew where his weak spot was. However, she was never able to reach it.

The last of her strength was fading away and her mind became scattered. There was no way for her to win this fight anymore.

She had a single thought echoing through her mind. So this is what humanity feels?

Viviane twisted her grip on the handle and stabbed herself with Excalibur, driving it through her chest.

It hurt. Her own blade made no distinction between her own body or the enemies and tore through every part of her being. Yet Viviane pushed the blade in deeper.

The holy blade sunk through her and then it continued, shredding the flesh of the demigod behind her.

It was an utterly deplorable, dishonorable and savage act. Yet at that moment Viviane only wanted one thing.

I'm sorry.

Heimdal raised the horn to his mouth. His nerves were fried from the tension, his voice was raspy and unable to remain steady, but in the end he was the one who had to declare the finale of the match.

Avalon vanished.

Riptide scattered.

The throne remained empty.

Heimdal blew the horn. The somber sound caused the lake to ripple.

"The fourth round of Ragnarok ends in a draw."

Percy Jackson vs Viviane

Time: 10 minutes, 30 seconds

Winning Attack: Excalibur impaled both opponents through the chest

DRAW

A/N o7.

Yay, in this category of 6 stories I am the most favorite.

-CaptainMoonShine-

(reviews)

-Dalan777

Link would be a good candidate but ultimately fail yes,

-Rain

Glad you can still enjoy the fanfic without knowing much about all the characters. I am kind of picking my own favorites, so big odds most people don't know all of them.