13Hohoho! Merry Christmas everyone! I am evil Santa! And I'm here to deliver you a Cliffhanger!
Shut up Santa! That's my role! Go back to your sleigh!
So... I was motivated to begin this! And I hope you'll like it!
Have a great moment, have a great end of a day, and... well, review and enjoy!
It has been two years. Two long, painful years since the end of the Dark Battle as the demigods called it. Two years since Elveril put an end to Erebus' rampage by exploding in the Throne Room.
During those two years, the world had changed a great deal, first, as the mortal scientists saw, a New Ice Age had begun, snow and ice covering a good part of the northern countries now, as well as a part of the oceans.
The cause of it was the pain of both Khione and Percy. At first, Poseidon felt offended of such an attack and stormed to the goddess' palace, in full battle attire, but stopped as he saw her, crying in fetal position on her throne with sat on the floor next to her, his son, looking in the vague, his passed away friend's gun in his hand.
During those two years, the Fighters and the Hunt traveled a lot together, because it was safer, yes, but mostly so Artemis could keep Percy out of depression.
As for Angel, she closed herself to almost everyone, only Katie was able to make her talk and smile ever so slightly.
But the main changes in the two of them was in their way of fighting. First, Angel began to learn how to fight, which was in itself a big change. She also began to use his gun, which Percy gave her, even if she was bad at it, it was always useful.
But Percy, him, became brutal, yes, he was merciless before, even reckless sometimes, but now, every trace of possible planning was gone, he bested every monster or adversary with brute strength.
Here was the new face of the world, a cold place, a brutal hero, and a grieving sister
Percy was sat against a tree. He still couldn't believe it his friend, Elverilae Réng, passed away to the Void in order to save everyone. At the thought of it, his face became dark, he couldn't wipe the anger of his face.
The idiot! He knew all along! Damn it! How could he accept this? Swore the son of Poseidon in his mind.
A few meters away from him was the son of Erebus, Shay, looking over his lieutenant with concern. He looked on his side and saw Tania looking a bit depressed. She was looking at the grieving hero with concern.
"He misses him." Simply stated the daughter of Thanatos. Shay smiled sadly to her and looked in a nearby shadow.
"We all do. He had his bad sides, but he was a great friend, and a great Fighter." Answered the newest Fighter before standing up. He walked confidently to Percy and looked down to him.
"Perce. What do we do now? We just cleared the nearby area and we are kind of bored. The Hunt will be here soon too." Asked the spear fighter as he leaned on a nearby tree.
Percy took a deep breath and stood up swiftly.
"We go to Camp Half-Blood. I want to see how Angel is, as well as the rest of the gang. After this… We storm to the enemy camp and take back Blazing Sacrifice before sending the stealer to Uncle H" Explained Percy. Shay nodded with a slight smile, it was good to see the son of Poseidon with another face than depression. He turned around and called out.
"Alright! Fighters! Hunters! Assassins! We go to camp Half-Blood for a bit and then we attack!" Shouted the demon boy. He smirked as he was answered by feminine groans.
"Yeah yeah! I know, But the boss said we go there so we go there. If you're not happy, go convince his lover, she's the only one who can change his mind.
In truth, Shay was happy. They were about to storm through a base made up of another pantheon's demigods. At first, he thought of Egyptian ones, but Percy denied the possibility, saying he already met them, earning quite a lot of surprised stare from the council.
Then, Athena did some research and found out it was the Persian pantheon, which was quite unknown. For what he understood, their pantheon was segregated in a Manichean way, the Good against the Bad, the Light against the Shadow.
And with new pantheon came new monsters, and that was something the Eclipse Fighters were happy about, especially the Stolls who used new combinations of pranks combined with combat technics.
In truth, Shay didn't even know how they managed to merge the two disciplines.
Anyway, after a while, Angel came to Percy, crying, because someone stole her brother's legacy. At first, everyone turned to the Stolls but they raised their hands claiming that "they were idiots, not heartless monsters"
So they proceeded in interrogating possible witnesses and traced down the robber down to a secret base inside Mount Rushmore.
So the three group prepared for travel while discussing with each other. During the two years travelling with each others, they became more understanding to the other's vision. The Fighters understood they couldn't bear the males and why, and the Huntresses understood they were different from the others, even the Stolls.
And then, Artemis walked out from the trees, in her eighteen years old from, a pulsing silver bow on her back, two hunting knives on her shoulders and a silver short sword strapped on her right thigh.
She gave a discreet caress on Percy's back and then smiled at the group.
"Everyone gather up, I'm going to teleport us to Camp Half-Blood. Oh. And close your eyes." The demigods obeyed and, after a now familiar sensation of being disassembled, they opened their eyes to face Peleus. Percy smiled and turned to look at Thalia.
The daughter of Zeus smirked and both of them walked in, followed by the rest of the group. The son of Poseidon took out his two swords and Thalia her spear. The two cousins walked in the camp with confidence, earning the amazed or hateful stare of every camper. They first walked to the Big House to greet Chiron.
The centaur was playing pinochle with Mr. D as usual. And as usual, he was winning. Putting the god in a bad mood. The wine deity looked up from his hand and raised his eyebrow.
"Well… If it isn't the depressive demigod." Drily said the bitter god. Percy looked at him, unimpressed.
"If it isn't the most useless god in existence." Answered the son of the Sea. He then smiled at Chiron.
"Hello Chiron! It's been a while!" Said the now cheerful Percy as he took his mentor in a hug. The old centaur smiled and then looked at the hero pointedly.
"Percy, it is a bad idea to piss off and insult gods." Said the trainer. Percy chuckled and raised his hands in surrender position.
"Hey! He began it. And if he doesn't like it, he can go on and risk the wrath of Apollo, Hades, Artemis and Dad… That's up to him." Then, Thalia hugged the centaur before Percy could speak up.
"Hey Chiron. Where is Angel… And surely Katie too?" Asked the son of Water as he entered a glaring contest with the god. Chiron chuckled at the thick headed attitude of the demigod.
"Young Percy, your insolent attitude will either lead you to the greatest positions or to your downfall. Angel is at the beach I think." Answered the millennia old son of Kronos. Percy smiled his thanks and dashed out of the building to reach the familiar location of the entrance to his father's realm.
There was sitting his passed away friend's protégée. Her head resting on Katie's shoulder as both were looking at the shining sea. Percy walked to them and smiled.
"How are you girls?" Spoke up the man. The two lovers jumped on their feet in surprise and faced the speaker with a shocked face.
"Gods Percy! Stop going all ninja on us!" Exclaimed the daughter of Demeter. At the confused face of Percy, Katie giggled.
"You sneaked on us." Clarified the daughter of the Hearth. Percy then looked embarrassed.
"Ah. Sorry but I don't do it on purpose, it's like a second nature." Apologized the iced armed demigod. "I came to see how you were and also to inform you that we will attack soon." Angel smiled at her friend and took him in a friendly hug.
"Thank you for your concern Perce. I'm okay, even if I'm sad about the sword. Do you think we could follow you?" Asked the daughter of Hope. Percy looked thoughtful.
It will put her in danger… On the other hand, she does have powerful allies. The lieutenant began to balance the pros and cons, and at the end, nodded.
"Okay, but on one condition." Angel nodded with big shining flaming eyes. "You, personally, stay in a safe place." Angel nodded and Percy smiled.
"Okay, gather the Flaming Doves and join us at the Pine tree. We have to pass at the infirmary to restock in Nectar and Ambrosia." Ordered the Hero of Olympus.
Angel raised her arm in the air and snapped her fingers, shooting a fireball which exploded in a golden firework.
The two lovers then walked passed a confused Percy and Angel waved back to him in a seducing manner.
"See you later Hero of Olympus." Percy shook his head and smiled in amusement. He jogged to the Hades cabin. He opened it without warning and froze.
On the bed was Nico, half-naked, kissing Will Solace fiercely. He raised his hand, opened his mouth and was about to interrupt them. But he closed it and walked out of the cabin.
Ten minutes later, Percy was leaning against the tree, finally out of his shocked stated. In front of him was what he considered the deadliest force in the world.
The Fighters, all equipped, the entire Hunt, with the wolf pack, the Assassins, as well as the Flaming Doves, whose each member was accompanied by a Phoenix, created from a divine bird of Aphrodite and the divine flames of Hestia.
Finally, Artemis was going there with them. This, in itself, was a side deciding factor.
"Alright guys! This is the moment for us to get revenge. They stole the last legacy of Elverilae, a hero who was sent to the void to slay the Darkness. This is an offense to his memory, to the fight we had at Manhattan! And we will make them pay." Exclaimed the son of the Sea. He looked up and thunder rumbled. He then looked at Artemis and she nodded.
She snapped her fingers and teleported them a few miles away from the sculpted mountain. The cheerful faces of the members turned to determination and they took out all the weapons.
Percy looked above his shoulder and began to order the troop.
"Hunters, scatter, close the perimeter, anyone who isn't a member of this force has to be taken down. Assassins, scout ahead and secure the entrance, and then, look around for any possible secondary entrance. Fighters and Doves, with me, our plan is simple, we go in and kill everyone." Said the demigod in a snarl.
Everyone nodded and obeyed Artemis stayed with Percy and intended to follow him, but Percy looked at her.
"Stay in the woods, no one can rival with you in this environment. You will be needed to silence the running away enemies." Artemis kissed his cheek, earning a small smile.
"Be careful." Whispered the silver goddess. Percy nodded.
"You too." He unsheathed his two blades, spun them and waited.
After a seemingly long wait, the attacking force felt a cold whisper, a glacial caress. And Percy smiled.
"Tania finished her job. Let's go!"
They rushed forward, and swiftly avoided the roots and branches on their way. Then, they faced the rocky wall and Percy narrowed his eyes.
"Where the fuck are they?" Wondered the demigod. Angel tapped on his shoulder.
"I see a heat signature over there." Percy smiled his thanks and ran there.
A small door was carved in the rock, but apparently, it was closed. Above the door, sat in a relaxed way was Tania, playing innocently with a dagger, but Percy could see in her eyes that she was annoyed.
"Those bastard sealed the entrance, it's a meter thick and protected with magic. I can't get in."
Percy frowned but Ryan, the son of Bellona walked ahead.
"It's my time to shine. Everyone step back, this could be dangerous." He took out his long sword and prepared a diagonal slash. He began to gather his power, both from his ascendance and his Hades blessing, using shadows to strengthen his blade, sharpen it and his Bellona blood to enhance his arm strength. Then, in a black blur, he assented the blow, sending a black wave.
The energy wave hit the door and spread on it in black cracks.
Then, the rock shattered.
"Han Kami no jutsu, Steel Breaker." Breathed in calm Ryan. Percy tapped his shoulder in congratulation and the two groups ran in without hesitation.
To them, it was a blur, reacting on instinct.
Percy slide under an incoming blade and Lacy kill it with her rapier. A Stoll parry a spear and Shay beheaded the offender.
And soon, the group arrived before a golden door with foreign inscription carved in it.
Percy faced the door, glaring at it with hatred. He put back Blizzard and punched the door with all his strength.
The door flew on the ground, revealing a large circular room with, at the center, at the top of a small hillock, a circular altar with a complex glowing magic circle.
The light was of an eerie green. Revealing the outline of dozens of people ready to fight. And behind the altar was what looked like a monk or a priest, harboring a victorious smile.
"Here you are! The deadliest force of the Greek Pantheon! Right on time to see the rise of a monster! You see, we are about to summon from the Oblivion a beast, an unstoppable destructor!" Roared the priest.
Percy, in answer, only raised an eyebrow.
"Oh? And how will you go to the void? I mean, I went to Tartarus and saw it, and it's quite a challenge." The priest smirked.
"For that, I need the ancient ritual I set and a piece of the void. And this!" Began the man, designating the floating black ninjato at the middle of the circle. "Is a piece of the void!" Everyone's eyes widened as they stared at the weapon.
Before anyone could add something, the man cut his palm and dropped some blood on the circle.
The ground started shaking, sending everyone, Persian and Greek alike to the ground.
Blazing sacrifice began vibrating, a high sound coming from it. Then, frightening whispers, incomprehensible to them rang in the room coming from nowhere.
And finally, everything stopped and the weapon expended in a black sphere.
Then, breaking the silence, the sphere exploded and revealed a swirling mass of black flames and goo.
With a deafening roar the mass took a shape, vaguely human.
The Greek group shivered as they stared at it. They could feel the power rolling out of it as it stared at the mass of demigods. The priest looked up at it and smiled evilly.
"Beast! Monster! Listen to me!" The beast snapped his head to him.
"Kill everyone!"