1,760LAST TIME
"Good luck, Percy." Grover opened his door and stepped out and hugged me tightly, shoving an acorn in my hand. "We Satyrs and Pan stand with you, brother."
"Thank you." I patted his back and slipped it in my pocket. "Get them back safely, Grover. You've told the nature spirits and animals to get away, right?"
"I did."
I nodded and he slipped into the front seat next to Thalia. Clarisse waved at me from the window, giving me a thumbs up as Thalia turned the Range Rover around.
"Good luck, Percy. Kick his ass for me." Thalia stepped on the accelerator and drove off.
"Well, time to meet the Titan of destruction."
Ch.55 The Destroyer's Battle
Waves rolled across the grains of sand and crashed against the rocks, before pulling back. The sun approached the water, its light glimmering over the white and blue turf in front of the beach. Empty chairs and umbrellas stretched over the place, fluttering in the salty gale.
I felt the hairs on my body prickle as I trudged through the sand, the edge of my sword glinting, throwing lines of golden light across the hot sand beneath my feet.
A single figure lay in the sun, his bronze-tinged skin glistening beneath the shade of a red umbrella. His toga moved like the waves of the sea over his legs, and his hands were folded on his belly, his eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses.
'I can sneak up on him and just kill him. No fuss.' I took out the bronze disc from my pocket and touched it, the runes glowing on it. 'Thank gods I learned how to charge it in advance and save it, so I don't have to waste my energy now.'
I carefully picked my way toward him, holding my breath as I approached the figure, feeling his power roll over the sand, which seemed to grow hotter.
"Hello, there," The man turned his head slightly. "I was wondering when you'd show up, mate." He smiled and rose from his seat, peering at me through his dark sunglasses. "I've been waiting almost all day. I reckon you wanted to show up after the pesky mortals were gone, eh?"
I blinked. "Why are you British?"
"It's this brilliant thing where I can take whatever form I wish. And I met this really beautiful British lass when I came back. And blimey, did she have an influence on me?" He grinned. "I absolutely destroyed her for all men after me too. She was wonderful, and the way she screamed my name— ah! Heavenly."
"So we can expect a kid of yours running around soon, it means," I sighed. "Also, too much information. I didn't need to hear any of that."
"That's your problem now, innit, mate?" He lowered his sunglasses, revealing pits of fire, raging like a storm within. "And I don't suppose you're here to chit-chat."
"I am not. I come with an offer, Perses. You—"
"Sir Perses." He held up a finger. "That's what she called me. Sir Perses. Nice ring to it, eh? Of course, she sometimes skipped the Perses part, especially as I utterly destroyed her pussy and pounded her into the pathetic beds of your mortal kind. But she loved every bit of it, so I ain't complaining. You should call me Sir Perses too."
"Do you have a knighthood from the Queen of England?"
Perses tilted his head. "I didn't know if she hailed from mortal royalty. But she was a queen amongst women. And she was from England. So, indeed, I do."
"I am not calling you sir." I gave him a deadpan look. "Unless you call me lord."
"I don't think I will, little half-blood."
"Cool. I come to you with an offer. An offer, I think you'll find to be very alluring."
"Is that so?"
"Swear a vow to not support the Titan Lord. Swear to not harm Olympus, and the gods shall allow you to live."
"I don't want the mercy of gods, mate." Perses chortled. "You don't beg for shelter in the home of someone you are about to destroy. Your gods will be naught but dust, little hero. Run along now. You've emptied the island for me and let me spend an afternoon in peace, so I'm feeling merciful."
"If you join Olympus, it could mean a better future for you and her." I offered. "It is better than the Ti—"
"And why would you think I'd care about her? She's the past. I shall feast upon the goddesses of Olympus once the gods are destroyed." He smirked. "Perhaps I did even destroy the maidenhoods of those uppity bitches, what say?"
Rage swept through me like a tidal wave, Artemis' face rising in front of my eyes. My fist slammed into the Titan's face a moment later, striking louder than a thunderclap, lifting Perses off his feet, and sending him flying across the beach into the waves.
The sea churned and dark clouds gathered in the sky, the rays of the sun disappearing. The ground trembled as I strode forward, watching as Perses' head broke through the water, his eyes burning with fire.
Ichor trailed down his misshapen nose and jaw, and the water around him bubbled. His skin turned to gray stone, and he grew in size, veins of lava stretching down his body.
"YOU DARE, HALF-BLOOD?" The water around him hissed and boiled, a hammer appearing in his hand, alit with orange flames. "I SHALL DESTROY YOU!"
The hammer smashed into the ground, a blast of fire roaring toward me. The ground shook, and thunder cracked across the sky as I thrust my sword, and the blade drank in the flames as it enveloped me and swirled with the wind around my body.
Artemis' face burned in my eyes, and the flames rose, turning green. Huge waves crashed and sizzled across Perses' body, snaking around his limbs.
"What? Impossible," he muttered. "How are you doing this?"
"You should've kept her out of your sight or your filthy mouth, Titan." I leveled my sword at him. "This was the biggest mistake of your life."
The fire flew in a beam through my sword, glowing with golden energy. Perses raised his hammer, and the beam struck, an explosion lighting up the beach, drowning the sound of thunder. Glass windows shattered in the resort behind me, and the ground rumbled.
I was sent skidding back across the beach, and heat pricked my skin, a haze of steam rising in the sky. The sand beneath my feet glinted with shards of glass that formed, but I ignored it, my eyes fixed upon the dark form of the titan who stumbled out from the water, his hammer smoking. Cracks ran over the stone skin of his chest, ichor trickling down it.
#Percy, conserve energy. Use it in attacks, not the storm!# Alexander yelled over the tide of anger, and I took a deep breath, letting go of the storm and pouring my fury down my blade.
Perses yelled and charged, the veins of fire over his body flaring as he brought his hammer down to meet my sword.
The world shook, a shockwave sending the chairs and umbrellas smashing into the resort that shook, cracks spreading up its pillars. The land around us split as I stared into Perses' flaming eyes, holding his hammer in a deadlock.
"Who are you, halfblood?"
"My name's Percy Jackson. Ask your friends about me when you meet them in Tartarus."
I shoved the hammer back and slashed my sword across his abdomen, the blade sinking through the rock skin like butter and drawing out ichor. The titan grunted and swung his fist.
The crack of stone was drowned out by Perses' howls as his fist was blocked by my shield, the metal thrumming blue. I thrust it forward, and a blue shockwave erupted, sending him sprawling onto the melting sand.
I darted forward, bringing my sword down on Perses only for his hammer to block it, sending another shockwave rumbling through the area. A thunderous crash rose behind me, but I didn't look back, pressing down on him, my sword glowing with a sea-green hue, flames licking its edges.
Perses held his hammer with both hands and growled, his stony face cracking with strain.
"I won't go down… like this." Perses hammer glowed and I felt a divine shockwave slam into me, sending me airborne.
#PERCY!# Alexander yelled. "WINDS!"
I summoned the storm around me, pulling it closer like a cocoon of winds, moments before I hit the ground, the winds cushioning the impact and bouncing across it like a ragdoll, onto cold marble. Small lines of burning pain erupted on my arm and I lifted it to see small shards of glass sticking into the skin, blood dripping down it onto the ground.
#Look away.#
I turned my head and felt a burst of warmth, followed by searing pain shoot down my arms before disappearing, leaving a patch of pink skin.
'Thanks.' I looked up to see a dark figure soaring through the sky toward me, his hammer raised. 'And time to bring out the big guns.'
My other sword appeared in my hand, and I filled them with my earthshaker power as Perses approached, his hammer glowing. I pointed my swords at him and brought them together, a colossal shockwave hitting him, sending Perses soaring back like a football.
My arms trembled, and the buildings behind me fell, pillars crumbling to dust. I winced as dust tingled against my nostrils and my eyes burned.
#Uh-huh, you might want to teleport before the thing falls on you.#
I wrenched the world past me, dissolving into the sea breeze, and appeared in the water, warm waves washing over my calves. Perses stood waist-deep, his face haggard and skin peeking from under the rocks that had ichor all over them.
Energy shot up my body as I stepped deeper, the power of the ocean churning in my gut.
A burning beam of red and orange flew from his hammer, and I twisted away, watching it hit the remnants of the resort, which burst into dust and flames, crumpling to ashes.
A second later, he lunged at me but I caught his fist with a grunt, feeling the fire envelop my fingers.
"Bloody hell," Perses heaved. "Why can't I destroy you?"
He swung his hammer but I knocked it away, and kicked him into the ocean.
"Because you threatened my family, Perses. And I show no mercy to those who do that." I raised my sword.
"Please," Perses backed away, the stone skin crumbling to dust and drifting into the ocean. "I'll do what you want. I'll swear the oath. Don't do this. I've just returned. Don't send me back."
I looked at him and remembered Artemis' silver eyes.
"No."
Thyella Kavalris pierced through his chest, a spurt of ichor raining into the water. Perses crumpled to his knees, and burning energy spread up my arms, and the fatigue withered away, the sword glowing.
"You get what you deserve. No more destroying things."
I pulled my sword out and Perses fell into water, the golden dust scattering within it.
#Congratulations.# Alexander said as I stumbled back, sitting on the edge of the waves. #You did it.#
"I let him off easy," I whispered. "I should've broken his bones for what he wanted to do."
#You killed him. It was what was best. No risks, Percy. You promised Artemis.#
I nodded, breathing in deeply, and looking back with a frown.
"Where the hell am I?"
#About a few miles back from where you started, actually. You sank a good part of the place. Not even half though. Maybe a quarter. More like twenty percent.#
'When?' I asked him incredulously. 'I would've noticed.'
#When you were fighting Perses, of course. You saw red, and he just helped you speed it up.# Alexander answered. #Of course, your brain, being hardwired for battle, ignores inconsequential things unless you really want it not to. And that includes sinking the land into water, apparently.#
I shook my head and looked back at the waves that rose and sank, churning slightly. I narrowed my eyes.
'Someone's coming.' I felt my senses tingle. 'Tethys?'
#I don't know.#
I summoned my sword back, grasping the hilt tightly as a figure emerged from the wave, her luscious locks flowing behind her.
"Percy! I thought it was you! What the hell are you doing?" She exclaimed. "Gods, I thought someone had spilled the war of Atlantis onto the world above."
"Kymopoleia, it's you." I relaxed. "What happened?"
"What happened?" She scoffed. "You summoned a storm that was felt for miles. Hundreds of miles. You sank land into the water. Two small islands near here have disappeared into the sea!"
I felt dread well in my chest. "Did anyone die? Mortals or—"
"No, it was mostly empty." She waved me off. "One was a private island, I think. So you made someone very unhappy. But I didn't feel any unexpected mortals in the sea. Anyway, what the hell were you thinking?"
"Not much. I was fighting a titan." I shrugged. "Things got a little out of hand."
"A little is not a word I'd use for this," she waved a hand at my surroundings. "There used to be a beach here. And not even I've sunk islands in eons. Heck, not even Poseidon has. Who the hell were you fighting?"
"Perses. The Titan of Destruction."
Kymopoleia froze. "What?"
"Yeah. Him. Titan of destruction," I said. "We fought. I won. It's simple, really. And as no one died, I see no reason to worry. Property damage is probably covered by insurance, so it's a headache for them, really."
"So he caused all of this?" She frowned.
"The storm was me. The destruction here was both of us." I stood up, wincing as pain shot up my limbs and stumbled back to the ground.
Kymopoleia was instantly by my side, a tingle of power washing over me. "You've got cracks in your bones. And internal bleeding. Gods."
She disappeared in a spout of water and reappeared with herbs laden in her arms. "Stay sti—"
She crashed into an invisible wall and stumbled into the water. Thunder rumbled in the sky loudly.
"Kym, I am on a quest. You cannot help me." I smiled at her. "I'll heal, don't worry. I have ambrosia and nectar."
"Fucking Ancient Laws." She rose from the water and shook her head, looking at me worriedly as I summoned my bag and removed a packet of cubes from its side pocket, wincing as pain shot up my arms.
"Gods, Percy, why do you do this?" Tears fell down her cheeks and her face twisted. "You stupid idiot! Who asks you to fight titans and put your life at risk? You have any idea—"
"Kym, you're being volatile again. Calm down." I chewed on a cube and drank nectar from the canteen. "Deep breaths. Good."
I felt the pain subside, calming down like the waves of the ocean as Kymopoleia took deep breaths and flushed. "Sorry."
"No harm done." I placed another cube in my mouth. "See, all good. Almost."
"Try not to move a lot for some time. You should be okay in a few minutes." She bit her lip. "I'll be right back."
She dove into the water and I leaned back, staring up at the sky. Waves washed across my feet and I dragged myself into the sea, its power washing over my skin.
A shadow fell over my face and I saw Kymopoleia stand above me, holding a hammer. "I think this belongs to you now. The hammer of Perses. It is powerful."
I scoffed, and she placed it next to me. "I don't want it."
"You won it. You can do whatever you wish with it." She twirled a lock of hair between her fingers. "But I'd say keep it. For heroes, the weapons of gods are the greatest gifts. You might have several but it doesn't make it any less valuable. You've won it, after all. It is a trophy."
I looked at the humongous war hammer and sighed. "I'll put it in storage, I suppose. I've no other use for it."
She beamed. "Good. Now, I'll take my leave. I've got some work to do. Don't forget to call, yeah?"
"I'll call. Don't worry."
She skipped into the water and disappeared amongst the waves and the glow of the setting sun. I smiled and lay on the sand for a few moments before pushing myself to my feet. My friends were waiting for me, and I had to check on them.
Objects lay scattered across the marble floors as I walked into the lobby, stepping over fallen furniture, and making my way toward my friends.
Thalia looked up, and a smile of relief lit up her face. "Percy!"
"Hello," I was pulled into a tight hug as Grover crashed into me, followed by the rest of them. "Guys, air. Let me breathe."
"You're alright, thank the gods," Annabeth breathed. "I was so worried."
"I couldn't have fought so freely without you emptying the island." I told her. "You all got here safely?"
"You mean through the storm and earthquake, we did," Clarisse snorted. "You weren't kidding when you said you could sink the island. Gods."
"Thalia said that the storm was yours," Grover glanced at her. "She recognized it. But it was more powerful than anything she had ever seen. I think the storm even made the news."
"Huge mysterious storm appears and disappears, leaving destruction in its wake." I read off the screen. "Coastal areas affected. Airports closed and flights rediverted."
"No deaths, I think." Thalia bit her lip. "Some might have died in the storm and the earthquake, though."
I felt a knife twist beneath my ribs. "I see. Well, what's important is that the mission was a success. Perses is dead, which is a big win for us."
"It is," Annabeth agreed. "And you would be tired."
"I am."
"We should use the east wing. The building here might not be safe, and we may feel aftershocks. The east wing is pretty much intact though and would survive unless you pull another Percy."
"I won't." I chuckled. "I don't intend to, at least. Let's get some rest, guys. Tomorrow, we'll get a boat or a flight to Miami."
"Why Miami and not New York?" Bianca frowned.
"Nereus," Thalia said. "Percy says he's in Miami now. And he can help us find Hecate."
"That's right." I agreed. "We might even rest for a day more. Help yourself to anything from the kitchen or hotel rooms. I'll see you tomorrow morning. Right now, I am going to go and take a nice shower and then, sleep like a baby."
"You've earned it," Grover said. "Come, I'll help you to your room. You look half dead, and your clothes are all torn up."
I looked down and winced at the state of my shirt and pants. Even my shoes had holes in them. "Yeah."
Grover wrapped an arm around my back and led me to a suite on the floor. "If you want anything, just yell my name. I've good ears. I'll come."
"Thanks," I pushed the door closed, and tore the remains of my shirt away. Stumbling toward the bathroom, I removed my pants and held myself under the shower, letting the warm water run down my back and soothe my muscles.
Several minutes later, I shut it and wrapped a white towel around my waist, drying the water away with a thought, and stepped out, the slight cold biting at my feet.
A pair of silver eyes stared at me, and a yelp sounded as Artemis twisted away, covering her eyes. "Shit! I didn't mean to!"
"Artemis, what are you doing here?" I asked.
"I just came to visit you. Can you throw on some clothes first?"
"Sure," I summoned my bag and quickly pulled on a loose t-shirt, followed by underwear and pajamas. "You can look now."
"If I turn and I see you naked, I am going to kick you in the balls," Artemis turned, peeking through her fingers and pulling her hands down to reveal her golden cheeks. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were going to come out of the shower half naked."
"It's no problem." I cleared my throat and neared her, sitting beside her on the bed. "I was just surprised to see you here."
Artemis scooted closer, looking at me with her silver doe eyes. "I saw the fight today and wanted to see you." She fiddled with her thumbs. "I— I missed you."
I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, pressing my lips against hers. Artemis moved, her fingers brushing up my chest and curling over my shoulder as she deepened the kiss, her lips melding against mine.
She pulled back and stared into my eyes, a faint smile on her lips as she gasped slightly.
"I missed you too," I whispered. "A lot."
Artemis smashed her lips onto mine, her weight shifting onto me, pushing me on my back as she kissed me fiercely, her auburn hair falling on my face. I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her back, savoring the warmth that blossomed in my chest.
We pulled back, Artemis' warm breath brushing against my chin, her legs on either side of my lap.
"You know, Percy? I've never felt anything like this. It was like I wanted to be closer to you and be with you. But I couldn't."
"I wanted the same. I wished you were with me. Everything would've been so much easier and better with you." I squeezed her waist. "Every night for the last few days, I looked at the moon and missed you."
"I know." Artemis laid her head on my chest. "I could feel it."
"This feels good. Right." I murmured against her head. "I feel better already."
Artemis looked up, her chin resting on my chest as she stared up at me. "You do?"
"I do."
"This does feel right. Like the sweetest of dreams." She said and scooted upward, and I winced, a pain lancing up my ribs.
She flinched and rolled away, looking at me with worried eyes. "Are you okay? Did I hurt you?"
"Yes, I'm ok," I heaved. "It is just that I am not fully healed yet."
"Where does it hurt?"
"Mostly my chest and arms," I replied. "Arms are okay now, after the shower and the ambrosia. But the ribs. They still hurt. If I move too much."
Artemis ran her fingers over my chest, feeling the bones. "They're slightly broken. Healing, but still injured."
"Kymopoleia said they should be alright with some sleep and ambrosia," I told her. "She came to see me after she felt the storm."
"You should rest," Artemis said. "It is always good to rest after a fight."
"I'm sorry though."
Artemis frowned. "For what?"
"Ruining the moment."
Artemis shook her head in exasperation before leaning forward and kissing me, her lips moving with mine, the curve of her breast brushing against my arm. I could feel the heat of her body as her fingers trailed over my cheek and she continued, her lips melding against mine.
A moment later, we broke the kiss and heaved, still in each other's arms.
"See?" Artemis said with a smile. "Moments can be formed anytime we want."
"They can."
She pecked my lips and patted my shoulder. "Now you should rest, Percy. And heal. Come here, up. Properly on the bed."
I dragged myself onto the soft pillow, watching Artemis' smile.
Artemis bit her lip. "I'll leave you to rest. I do not want to accidentally interfere and do something stupid with the quest."
I grabbed her hand. "You don't have to go. Stay. Talk with me."
Artemis beamed and slid next propping her head up on her hand. "So, what's going on with the quest? I saw Clarisse kill Pallas. And then, heard word of your negotiation with Theia."
"What did you decide with her?" I asked.
"Zeus wasn't exactly happy, but he allowed it. So she's now on Olympus, living in one of the old palaces at the edges of the city."
"Nice," I muttered. "As for the quest, that's about it. We got around, killed a bunch of monsters, Pallas, and today, Perses. Two lines of the prophecy are done. Four more to go. What punishment did you get for the Pallas thing?"
"No ambrosia or nectar for a week and no leaving Olympus. And it is already up. So, yay."
I turned onto my side, facing her. "I'm sorry you had to suffer through that for us."
"For you I'd do that a thousand times over," Artemis smiled. "What do you plan to do next?"
"We are planning to find Hecate. She has hidden the armies of the Titan forces so if we get to her and can negotiate, it'd be a good win." Artemis shifted at the name, and my eyes widened. "You can find her, can't you? Because you share the domain of the moon?"
"Yes." Artemis looked to the sky. "But I can't tell you. I've already pushed things too far. I can't say more without something."
"Hmm, we were planning to find Nereus and ask him. But if you can, but you want something, will kisses do as a fee?"
Artemis burst out laughing, her head dropping onto the pillow.
"I— I do not think the fates would take kisses to the goddess— as appropriate payment." She said between chuckles.
"Hmm, but would you take it?" I asked, and she turned back to me.
"I would," Her silver eyes flashed, sending a shiver rippling down my spine. "I would love it."
"Then well," I breathed. "There's no harm in trying to give you kisses, is there? Even if it doesn't—"
"No, I suppose there isn't." Artemis cut in. "We should try it."
She captured my lips in hers, and my arms wrapped around her body as I pulled her closer, sinking into the kiss like a grain of sand in the ocean.
AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!
The last scene was me telling Artemis and Percy— Be cute. ;)
Anyhow, I hope you all liked the battle, the rage, the romance, and everything else! And we got to see a glimpse of just how destructive Percy can potentially be. Half the island sank and he didn't even realize it.
And yes, as some have gracefully pointed out, I am enormously late on this update. I know, I know. My bad. Real life struck me, slowing me down, scattering my updates. That, and the fact that I now have a brand new fic, BLACK DAWN!
It is a Harry Potter fic, so if you are into that fandom, please check it out and let me know your thoughts on it. And yes, I'll aim to keep the schedule in place for the other stories too but sometimes life throws curveballs your way that you don't quite see coming— or the University does.
If you want to get more chapters, the NEXT THREE CHAPTERS are already up on Pat-reon alongside FOURTEEN Side Stories. So, if you want to (and can), please subscribe and support me as an author. It would mean a lot to me if you do so. There you can even find additional short stories, polls, and lore compendium apart from my normal long fics!
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Revan439: It'll take a year, yes to be completed. But it remains a major fic, believe it or not. Though, still not the most popular by a long shot, it is somewhere there. And the time table is usually an update per month but last month was hectic in many many ways and I couldn't cope. I usually do follow the one month time table for stretches.
InfiniteShadow3: … You cannot see the goddess of childhood, and childbirth wanting to have kids? Look up Artemis' domains, please.
Ladis11: Having your emotions under control during a fight v/s having it all the time is different. If Kympoleia wears it, she'd be bottling everything which would lead to way worse things. Also, it doesn't keep your emotions down. Just your mind clear. There's a slight difference but an important one. There's also the fact the Kympoleia's very nature is such, which Alexander's and Percy's isn't. (Has to go more into the divine side. A full explanation can be dropped in your DM if you wish, but it'd be too long here.)
Domz56: 1.) Yes, all the binds will be unlocked by the time he goes up against Kronos. And without the binds, the Thyella Kavalris will be a very powerful weapon. I cannot exactly quantify it exactly as power on such scales and measures can be rather subjective, but it would definitely be in the league of Hermes' caduceus. Or perhaps, more appropriately, Artemis' or Apollo's divine bows. Not the most powerful weapon by any means, but close enough that with mortal limits on gods, the difference will not matter unless in the extremes.
2.) It doesn't need a godly weapon to kill a giant but rather a god and a demigod. The weapon itself will not make a difference where killing giants is concerned.
3.) That's for me to know and you to find out. :D
4.) The chapter length is not fixed, and it varies on what I wish to show and how much retention would be needed. Shorter chapters mean greater retention, especially for something new. So, I'd say yes, the chapter length should increase but it would again depend from scene to scene. Also, longer chapters are not necessarily better imo. Think of it as skill over size ;)
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Thank you for all your reviews!
A huge thanks to Nanu, Mughil, Zaby, Domz56 and Tulayb for betaing this chapter!
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