THE PROPHECY ² / Percy Jackson !

38

"ROUND ONE!" Antaeus announced. The gates opened, and a dracaena slithered out. She had a trident in one hand and a weighted net in the other— classic gladiator style. 

Percy had  trained against those weapons at camp for years.She jabbed at Percy  experimentally. 

Percy stepped away. She threw her net, hoping to tangle Percy's sword hand, but he sidestepped easily, sliced her spear in half, and stabbed Riptide through a chink in her armor. 

With a painful wail, she vaporized into nothing, and the cheering of the crowd died.

"No!" Antaeus bellowed. "Too fast! You must wait for the kill. Only Igive that order!"

Viviene noticed Percy glance at her, Annabeth and Rachel. 

He had to find a way to get them free, maybe distract their guards.

"Nice job, Percy." Luke smiled. "You've gotten better with the sword. I'll grant you that."

"Round two!" Antaeus yelled. "And slower this time! More entertainment!Wait for my call before killing anybody. OR ELSE!"

The gates opened again, and this time a young warrior came out.

He was alittle older than Percy, about sixteen.

He had glossy black hair, and his left eyewas covered with an eye patch. He was thin and wiry so his Greek armorhung on him loosely. He stabbed his sword into the dirt, adjusted his shield straps, and pulled on his horsehair helmet.

"Who are you?"Percy asked.

"Ethan Nakamura," he said. "I have to kill you."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Hey!" a monster jeered from the stands. "Stop talking and fight already!"The others took up the call.

"I have to prove myself," Ethan told me. "Only way to join up."

And with that he charged. Their swords met in midair and the crowd roared.It didn't seem right. 

Percy didn't want to fight to entertain a bunch of monsters, but Ethan Nakamura wasn't giving him much choice.

He pressed forward. He was good. He'd never been at Camp Half-Blood,as far as he knew, but he'd been trained. He parried my strike and almostslammed Percy  with his shield, but he jumped back. He slashed. Percy rolled to oneside.

They exchanged thrusts and parries, getting a fell for each other'sfighting style. Percy tried to keep on Ethan's blind side, but it didn't help much.He'd apparently been fighting with only one eye for a long time, because hewas excellent at guarding his left.

"Blood!" the monsters cried.

Percy's opponent glanced up at the stands. That was his weakness, Percy realized.He needed to impress them.

Percy didn't.

He yelled an angry battle cry and charged Percy , but Percy parried his blade and backed away, letting him come after him.

"Boo!" Antaeus said. "Stand and fight!"

Ethan pressed Percy, but Percy had no trouble defending, even without a shield.He was dressed for defense—heavy armor and shield—which made it verytiring to play offense. 

Percy was a softer target, but he also was lighter and faster. The crowd went nuts, yelling complaints and throwing rocks. They'd been fighting for almost five minutes and there was no blood.

Finally Ethan made his mistake. He tried to jab at Percy's stomach, and Percy locked his sword hilt in his and twisted. His sword dropped into the dirt.

Before he could recover, Percy slammed the butt of his sword into his helmet and pushed him down. His heavy armor helped Percy more than him. He fell on his back, dazed and tired. Percy put the tip of his sword on his chest.

"Get it over with," Ethan groaned.

Percy  looked up at Antaeus. His red face was stony with displeasure, but he held up his hand and put it thumbs down.

"Forget it." Percy sheathed his  sword.

"Don't be a fool," Ethan groaned. "They'll just kill us both."

Percy offered him a  hand. Reluctantly, he took it. Percy helped him up.

"No one dishonors the games!" Antaeus bellowed. "Your heads shall bothbe tributes to Poseidon!"

Percy looked at Ethan. "When you see your chance, run." Then he turned back to Antaeus. "Why don't you fight me yourself? If you've got Dad's favor, come down here and prove it!"

The monsters grumbled in the stands. Antaeus looked around, and apparently realized he had no choice. He couldn't say no without looking like a coward.

"I am the greatest wrestler in the world, boy," he warned. "I have been wrestling since the first pankration!"

"Pankration?" Percy repeated.

"He means fighting to the death," Ethan said. "No rules. No holds barred. It used to be an Olympic sport."

"Thanks for the tip," 

"Don't mention it."

Rachel was watching Percy with wide eyes. Annabeth shook her head emphatically, the Laistrygonian's hand still clamped over her mouth. Viviene stared at Percy with an unreadable expression.

Percy pointed riptide  at Antaeus. "Winner takes all! I win, we all go free.You win, we die. Swear upon the River Styx."

Antaeus laughed. "This shouldn't take long. I swear to your terms!"He leaped off the railing, into the arena.

"Good luck," Ethan told Percy . "You'll need it." Then he backed up quickly.

Antaeus cracked his knuckles. He grinned, and Percy saw that even his teeth were etched in wave patterns, which must've made brushing after meals a real pain.

"Weapons?" he asked.

"I'll stick with my sword. You?"

He held up his huge hands and wiggled his fingers. "I don't need anything else! Master Luke, you will referee this one."

Luke smiled down at Percy.  "With pleasure."

Antaeus lunged.

***

A short one. Sorry for not posting, I didn't have motivation because I hate writing these fighting scenes. It's boring and to be honest, I don't get it. He did what? How'd he dodge that? How did he cut him?

It's all confusing.