Let the rain be blood! ( War Game )

Bait and Blood

Alright. 

Time to stop hiding and start playing this game the way I know best—reckless, loud, and with a nice splash of violence.

I was crouched near the edge of the woods, just a few dozen yards away from the clearing where the Ares guards were still patrolling. The whole sneaking-around thing was getting old. I had set my traps around camp, but now? Now it was time to draw some blood. And if Ares' kids were dumb enough to fall for it, well, that wasn't my problem.

I reached into the hollowed-out log where I'd stashed my trident. The weight of it was solid in my hands, and a shiver of excitement ran up my spine. It wasn't just any weapon—it was mine. A gift from my dad, Poseidon. With this, I didn't need any fancy plans or backup.

Alright, Ares wannabes, let's dance.

I stepped out of the shadows, my trident gleaming in the sunlight. They saw me instantly. Of course they did. It's hard to miss a guy with a weapon the size of a pitchfork, just standing there, asking for trouble.

"Hey!" one of them shouted, cracking his knuckles. "It's Jackson!"

Ah, the sweet sound of enemies recognizing me.

The leader of the group, let's call him Warhammer Guy—because, shocker, he had a giant hammer—pointed right at me. His eyes lit up with a hunger for violence. They never learn, do they?

This is gonna be fun.

I twirled my trident in my hand, just to give them a little show. Then, I turned and sprinted into the trees. They didn't even hesitate before charging after me, like mindless dogs after a bone.

Perfect. I wanted them mad. Angry people are stupid people. And stupid people fall into traps.

I led them through the woods, knowing exactly where I was headed. My traps were waiting. I just needed to time everything right.

Come on. 

Don't screw this up. 

No pressure or anything.

Behind me, I could hear them crashing through the undergrowth, their heavy breathing getting closer. Three of them. Just the right number for some fun. I dodged around a tree and sprinted toward the first trap—a simple tripwire.

I glanced over my shoulder just in time to see Axe Guy—one of the meatheads chasing me—hit the wire hard. His feet flew out from under him, and he went down with a grunt, slamming into the ground with a sickening thud.

There's one.

Before he could even process what had happened, the pile of jagged sticks I'd placed below him did the rest. He let out a scream as a particularly nasty one jabbed through his leg, blood immediately soaking the dirt.

Yikes. 

That's gonna need a lot of bandages.

But I didn't stop to admire my work. Two more were still after me, and I wasn't done yet. The second guy, Sword Dude, was faster than I'd anticipated. I could hear him getting closer, his boots crunching against the dirt.

Time for something a little more creative.

I darted past my second trap—this one involved a series of rigged arrows. The moment Sword Dude stepped into the clearing, I ducked to the side, letting him charge right into the trigger.

The snap of the rope was barely audible, but the result wasn't. A string of arrows shot from the trees, and one lodged itself in Sword Dude's shoulder with a sickening squelch. Blood sprayed from the wound, painting the tree next to him as he staggered forward, eyes wide with shock.

That's two. 

Just one left.

But now came the real challenge. Warhammer Guy was still coming. And from the sound of it, he was pissed. He barreled through the trees like a bull, his hammer swinging wildly, knocking branches aside like they were nothing.

I spun around, my trident at the ready. This wasn't going to be like the others. Warhammer Guy wasn't about to trip over a wire or get skewered by a few arrows. This one, I'd have to handle up close.

"Jackson!" he roared, charging straight at me with murder in his eyes. "I'm gonna crush you!"

Typical Ares kid—big talk, small brain.

I ducked under his first swing, feeling the whoosh of air as the hammer missed my head by inches. But I didn't back off. Instead, I used his momentum against him, sweeping my trident low and aiming for his legs. The prongs of the trident slammed into his knee with a dull thud, and he roared in pain, stumbling forward.

Blood oozed from the wound, staining his pants, but he didn't stop. His hammer came down again, and I barely managed to block it with the shaft of my trident. The force of the blow sent a shockwave through my arms, but I gritted my teeth and held firm.

Time to end this.

I twisted to the side, my trident scraping against his armor with a metallic screech. Warhammer Guy staggered again, this time falling to one knee. His breath was ragged, blood dripping from the gash in his leg.

He's mine.

With one final push, I shoved him backward—straight into the pit trap. His eyes widened as he realized what was happening, but it was too late. He fell, arms flailing, into the pit of sharp rocks I'd set up earlier.

The sound of his body hitting the rocks was... not pretty. He let out a guttural scream as one of the jagged stones pierced his side, blood soaking his shirt almost instantly. His bracelet blinked red. Game over for him.

And that's three for three.

I stood there, panting slightly, as the adrenaline started to fade. The woods around me were silent, except for the groans of the injured Ares campers. Warhammer Guy wasn't getting back up. Neither was Sword Dude, judging by the pool of blood forming under him.

I wiped some dirt off my trident and looked around at the carnage I'd caused. Not bad for a day's work.

I'll give myself a solid 8 out of 10. Could've been bloodier.

With that, I turned and disappeared into the trees, leaving the Ares campers behind. They wouldn't be bothering me again anytime soon.