Rise of House Neptune

Rising To A Challenge

Chapter 10

A little less than a year had passed since Bianca had joined the legion. In that year Jason, and Percy were extremely busy making sure that the fifth cohort would never be treated like a joke again. From the day the Daughter of Pluto arrived the two boys had taken her under their wing, and attempted to repay the girl for saving their lives on top of the Empire State Building. Jason had proven to be an extremely competent Sword Instructor, while Percy worked with the girl on her powers constantly. Of course the nature of their powers were vastly different, but he showed her the ways in which Triden had shown him, and the girl took techniques like a fish to water or in her case a shadow to the dark.

It did not take long to discover that Bianca was going to shape out to be a powerful demigod. Her control over the dead, and the Earth itself was impressive for one so young, while her swordplay was flourishing under Gwen and Jason's command. The children of the Eldest Gods had become practically inseparable over the year, and with the arrival of the annual gladiator challenge the trio had been training day and night attempting to get ready to bring home the gauntlet to the fifth cohort barracks.

Last year Jason had been defeated in the final four. Though technically the son of Jupiter had received third place since Percy was forced to drop. Michael Kahale, the son of Venus and Primus Pilus, had defeated Jason last year, and the boys were determined not to allow such a defeat to occur again. This year was going to be different. Percy was now fourteen, and would be turning fifteen later that Summer while Jason would be turning fourteen himself in a few weeks, but Bianca wouldn't be fourteen until later in the year. Needless to say the teenagers were feeling that their bodies were finally catching up with their abilities, and it was time to prove to the Legion that they were among the most Elite fighters in camp even without their powers. That being said with powers the three were unquestionably among the most powerful in the demigod world, and they had proven it time and time again in war games. Since Bianca had joined the fifth cohort they had yet to lose an exercise. Of course Percy and Jason had already been on a small streak when she joined them, but now they were unconquerable.

When Bianca had arrived she spoke to Jason and Percy about her brief time in the Underworld, and the time she had gotten with her father. Since Pluto was not an Olympian he bent the rules more than most when it came to interacting with his kids, and he gave her a head start training crash course before sending her off to Lupa like Neptune had originally intended. This had explained why the girl had been later to arrive than expected, but to everyone over the year it was all but forgotten.

Percy and Bianca were sparring on the banks of the Tiber with Triden watching carefully, "Don't overextend yourself Di Angelo my brother is going to lop one of your arms off on accident."

Bianca gave the slightest nod of her head at the words of the young Immortal as she went for multiple rapid fire attacks. Her strikes were becoming wilder and stronger, but also less coordinated. She went for two quick strikes to Percy's head, but her stamina got the best of her as he forced his hips forward as she attempted to strike down, and he disarmed her easily.

Huffing in frustration the girl threw her hand forward and a small black shadow of power came from the ground throwing Percy off his feet backwards making him hit the ground hard. He groaned in pain as Triden laughed, "Well now brother it seems you have upset our cousin!"

Percy stared at the sky bitterly, "We agreed on no powers."

Bianca merely shrugged as she held riptide at his throat, "Yes, but then I lost so I thought I would continuously enhance your training and give you a different look. All for training purposes of course, I am sure you understand?"

This caused the young immortal to laugh even more, "She has a point Perseus. Never expect anyone to fight by the rules even in a silly competition."