The Forgotten Olympian |BOOK 1| PJO X HP | Alexandra Marine

Chapter 43 - Alex - Battle, Part 1

I woke up to the sounds of battle. Metal clanged against metal; horses whinnied loudly, and screams filled the air. Dam it, I cursed. Dakota didn't even wake me up. The battle had started without us knowing it. Bobby was curled up in a deep sleep.

I didn't have time to change. I pulled out my trident, woke Bobby and marched into the battle, wearing my purple shirt, and without brushing my teeth. Half the camp was asleep, and the giant army was huge. We were hopelessly outnumbered. 

I instantly got to work. I slammed the monsters and speared them into sandcastles. 

Working like a demon was easy but protecting everyone was not. Once in a while, I'd see many demigods who were just like me, still drowsy but determined to fight. We were losing, but we'd die warriors.

Scorpions fired into the ranks of the Earthborn. Hannibal the elephant plowed down monsters right and left, but the defenders were badly outnumbered.

On her pegasus Scipio, Reyna flew around the giant Polybotes, trying to keep him occupied. The Lares had formed shimmering purple lines against a mob of black, vaporous shades in ancient armor. Veteran demigods from the city had joined the battle and were pushing their shield wall against an onslaught of wild centaurs. Giant eagles circled the battlefield, doing aerial combat with two snake-haired ladies in green Bargain Mart vests—Stheno and Euryale. But it was not enough. 

An hour after the battle had begun, I started to gain my actual consciousness. I'd been lost my drowsiness, but now my vision cleared. The conch could wake anyone. Before I could pull it out, however, a shrill whistle filled the air. 

I smirked. I could recognize Percy even if he whispered. I brought out the conch and blew. The ground shook wildly and split apart. Skeletal warriors rose from the ground, fully armed and prepped for battle. The giants howled in pain, and the Roman side woke up with energy. 

By my side, I could see a hellhound, a bald eagle and a magnificent horse skirting the northern perimeter. The strangest reinforcements ever. Just what we needed.

Percy shouted, "Fifth Cohort!" and slammed into the nearest Cyclops.

"Bad Cyclops Lady!" Tyson bellowed over the general sounds of war. "General Tyson says GO AWAY!"

"FIFTH COHORT!" I screamed, and charged into the nearest demon, who turned out to be Stheno. She turned into golden dust, and to my relief, she did not form again. 

Once every Cyclops within fifty yards had been reduced to ashes, Frank landed in front of his troops and transformed into a human. His centurion's badge and Mural Crown gleamed on his winter jacket.

"Fifth Cohort!" he bellowed. "Get your Imperial gold weapons right here!"

The campers recovered from their shock and mobbed the chariot. Percy did his best to hand out equipment quickly. I ran up to him and have him a huge hug.

"You made it!" I whispered. 

"Careful, you've got a trident in hand," Percy said, hugging me back. 

"Let's go, let's go!" Dakota urged, grinning like a madman as he swigged red Kool-Aid from his flask. "Our comrades need help!"

Soon the Fifth Cohort was equipped with new weapons and shields and helmets. They weren't exactly consistent. In fact, they looked like they'd been shopping at a King Midas clearance sale. But they were suddenly the most powerful cohort in the legion.

"Follow the eagle!" Frank ordered. "To battle!"

The campers cheered. 

I blew the conch as the eagle soared into the sky. With newfound power, the Fifth Cohort charged into the battle behind us- forty extremely shiny gold-plated warriors screaming for blood.