AN: Alright, the house purchase is all but sorted. Got a couple last things to handle before closing next month but otherwise it's all wrapped up so I can get back to writing.
Son of the Moon
Chapter 65
-Reyna-
'This is it.' Reyna signed at her fellow Legionnaires as they stood outside the throne room. They'd not seen any sign of Krios through the fortress as they made their way to the most vulnerable point so there was only one place left the Titan of Constellations could be. 'Larry, you and your siblings stick to the shadows. I'll draw his attention with the others while you get the bombs set up. Once they're ready, if you see an opening, take it.' She wanted to ensure her people all made it back home.
'It has been an Honor, Praetor." Larry signed before saluting as he and his siblings seemingly vanished from sight, only her knowing where to look letting her still spot them.
Taking a steadying breath, Reyna channeled the strength of her mother and threw the great double doors open, the golden structures slamming against the marble walls with a resounding boom.
"Ah, I had a feeling I would see someone here." Krios rumbled, his spear held lazily in his fist, "And I know your face. The brat Grace spoke of you often."
"Great, now I feel unclean." Reyna grimaced, moving in while the two sons of Vulcan kept a few paces behind her, their injuries they'd gotten along the way making it appear that the three of them were all that was left of a larger infiltration group.
"If it is any consolation I will give you a swift death so that you need not concern yourself with what Grace would do to you upon his return." Krios cracked their neck as he rose up, spinning his spear into a more combat ready grip, "That is the only mercy that I shall grant you."
"Your Mercy is appreciated, but unnecessary." Reyna drew her Gladius "You won't be winning this fight."
"HAH!" Krios seemed amused, like someone would while looking at a child thinking it could overpower their parent "You mortals, always so precocious. Very well then, daughter of Bellona." Krios moved his spear gleaming as she threw herself aside, the spear sinking into the marble floor easily "Prove thyself."
-Percy-
Breaths coming hard and heavy, Percy sprinted through the streets of New York toward the sound of screams and the smell of ash. In the day since they had met with Epimetheus, the Titan forces had redoubled their efforts. The worst of the army had been the waves after waves of Cyclopes sent at them. Wild and feral, their minds underdeveloped and only craving destruction and their movements awkward, as if they were unused to their new size. If he had to guess then they were a creation of Poseidon and Kronos' fusion. Poseidon having his way with several Nymphs to breed new Cyclopes and Kronos then using his power over time to rapidly and forcefully age them into a more combat viable form.
Tyson had taken personal offense to this and had been hunting them down personally to give them mercy killings, the Party Ponies joining him in the charge.
They were no longer the biggest problem though.
Rounding the corner as he saw a son of Ares get bisected, Percy laid eyes on yet another Titan. Perses, the Titan of Destruction and the unornate namesake of his namesake. he powerful Titan warrior wrenched their greatsword out of the ground, lines of magma and fire veining down their skin and their sword.
"Ah, I had hoped you would be the one to come for me." Perses cracked their neck loudly, "Hyperion will be so disappointed that he won't get to capture you himself."
"He's currently having to fend off Polybotes." Percy readied his bow, wanting a bit of distance between himself and the embodiment of destruction, "He's more durable than a demigod so Hyperion can't just flash someone and win."
"Hah!" Perses grinned, "I'll be sure to tell him you said it like that, his face will be most entertaining. I hope you shall give me a good fight boy; I'll be disappointed if all the stories about you are nothing more than 'myths'."
"Try me and find out." Percy launched an arrow at Perses, the Titan cutting it out of the air as he charged toward him, Percy getting their full attention.
Leaping out of the charge, Percy shouted over his shoulder "All of you, get away and regroup, leave Perseus to me!"
"Go ahead, you have my word on the Styx that I won't stop you." Perses let him give the orders, sounding shockingly unconcerned "I'd rather my opponents not be distracted by something as asinine as their comrades being too close causing them to hold back."
"You're just wanting a good fight?" Percy looked incredulous at the Titan's apparent motivation.
"I gave my oath to loyally serve Kronos long ago." Perses shrugged, pausing the fight so the rest of Percy's forces could collect their dead and flee, "Kronos is as paranoid as Zeus and more than willing to demand oaths of allegiance if he even thought there was a chance of betrayal from someone. I'm bound to his service so I can at least try to get some enjoyment out of what I do."
"The more I learn of his rule, the more I'm glad he got chopped up." Percy deadpanned as Perses barked out another laugh "That's the spirit! Now your friends are away, let's have a proper battle, Destroyer against Destroyer!" at his words, a whirling wildfire began to rage around the Titan.
"Fine!" Percy slung his bow back over his back and readied Riptide, knowing that he wouldn't get enough room to fight at range, not with how enthusiastic his opponent was. Leaping into the inferno around Perses, Percy summoned a hurricane, letting the wind and the rain clash against the whirling flames while their blades met in a shower of sparks and booming thunder.
"You're a strong one!" Perses grew more excited with each clash of steel, "Once this war ends I think I'll make you my apprentice. I could use a sparring partner that makes things fun!" rolling with the knee that slammed into his gut, Percy hurled a bolt of lightning at Perses, catching them in the face.
"I don't plan to lose!" Percy summoned the water pooling around the street from his rain and various broken water pipes and fire hydrants. The controlled liquid gathered around his fist, forming a massive gauntlet as he slammed it into Perses torso, sending the lord of destruction through a car.
"GOOD!" it sadly didn't slow down his opponent for long, "Keep showing me your fire! Show me the demigod that will destroy anything that threatens what he claims as his!" the attacks were coming faster and faster as the street was torn asunder around them. Every burn and gash Perses inflicted was hastily, and forcibly, healed by the water whirling around them but he continued to feel each and every injury.
Unfortunately, Perses was healing just as fast. Whether through sheer adrenaline-fueled divine energy or by the destruction the Titan caused Percy wasn't sure. But one thing was clear, it would take a single massive strike to end this fight. Switching to using Riptide with a single hand, Percy began pulling out throwing knives from his left arm's storage space. The divine silver flew straight and true, stabbing into Perses' arms, his legs, his back. But the blades were small enough that he was able to keep fighting, ignoring them as if they were no more than paper cuts.
"I am a Titan boy!" Perseus wrenched his blade through the ground to hurl cement at Percy who had to hastily leap out of the way as the rubble smashed through a shop window "Do you truly think you can whittle me down with such small wounds?"
"No, they're just to make this more effective." Percy dropped Riptide as his right arm split open into a shape reminiscent of a crossbow, the smell of ozone filling the air. Perses only had a moment to realize what was about to happen before Percy let loose with the true lightning bolt stored in his arm. It wasn't the Master Bolt, but it was still a powerful weapon he'd been given for use in this eventual war.
"I'd wanted to save that for Kronos." Percy scowled panting as his arm closed back up and the smoke caused by the blast started to fade. Each of the divine silver knives had been enchanted by Hecate to make any lightning that hit them more potent.
"It wouldn't…have mattered." Perseus came into view as the smoke cleared, the divine silver melted into slag on their skin even as the wounds were still healing, albeit much, much, slower than before "With Poseidon as his host lightning has next to no effect on the Lord of Time." Perses used their greatsword as a crutch to start trying to force themselves to their feet.
"No…how are you still standing?!" Percy's eyes were wide in horror at how much punishment Perses was taking and still moving.
"Othrys still stands boy." Perses laughed, albeit weak "As long as it stands then we Titans cannot truly fall! Why do you think the Olympians are so determined to protect their city in the clouds? My throne still-" the Titans' words were cut off as their wounds instantly stopped healing, the Titan staggering and falling to the ground.
"My…my throne?!" Perses' eyes were wide "Othrys?!"
"It sounds like you tempted the Fates." Percy grunted as he realized the team Reyna sent into Othrys must have finished planting the explosives.
"I suppose I did." Perses chuckled, letting their sword fall "I suppose I did. You are the victorious Destroyer this day."
-Reyna-
Coughing up blood, Reyna glared at Krios. The Titan of Constellations was removing their spear from the guts of her Legionnaires, the blood standing out against the black stone floor.
"You all gave a valiant showing." Krios nodded as he stepped over Larry's dying body "I was not even able to sense your allies until they joined you." It was spoken with genuine respect as Krios continued to step around each of her dead or dying allies, taking care not to step on them "I shall immortalize your attempt in the stars, Praetor of Rome." Krios promised as he lifted her up, "Do you have any final words?" Looking over Krios' shoulders, Reyna locked eyes with Larry who gave her a furious nod, blood staining their teeth as they bare their Legion Brand.
"Yes." Reyna glared at Krios as she reached into her armor where she kept the detonator "For Rome." She pushed the button, and her world became enveloped in Green Flame as Othrys was consumed by fire and destruction.