𝐏𝐘𝐑𝐑𝐇𝐈𝐂 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄, 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

24 - all that bloodshed, crimson clover

𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪

TO HER CREDIT, Elia didn't freeze for that long. She'd been in plenty of fights before; freezing was the worst thing someone could do. But this was a battle like she'd never experienced before, so forgive her for faltering for a moment to hold Percy's hand a little longer.

First came the Laistrygonians, nearly a dozen giants wielding shields made of smashed cars and clubs from tree trunks. They were bellowing so loudly that Elia flinched away, her enhanced ears ringing slightly. One giant swung his club at the Ares cabin, sending campers flying like rag dolls. Percy's fingers tightened around Elia's.

With a single shout from Beckendorf, the Hephaestus campers let loose their catapults. They took down one giant with a huge boulder, leaving it to vanish into dust. Elia's siblings let volleys of flaming arrows fly, and she couldn't help but feel pride swell in her chest as she squinted to see the arrows vaporize multiple giants on the spot.

But just their luck, as the Laistrygonians finally began to look overwhelmed, a hoard of dracaenae flooded from the maze, holding spears and nets, baring their teeth at campers. The little order they had on the battlefield now disappeared, everything dissolving into chaos and carnage. The enemies set off the Hephaestus cabin's traps, Greek fire exploding in the air and frying anyone who came close.

Elia spotted one of her younger brothers, Ravi, bashing a snake-woman in the face with his crossbow, leaving her as nothing but golden dust. Nearby, Lucia and Annabeth stood back to back, taking down enemy after enemy with practiced ease. Tyson was slamming a large bronze shield into a giant's head over and over, making a noise something like the ringing of a huge bell.

Chiron, aiming arrows with calm precision, galloped past Elia and Percy, who were watching everything in a state of shock. "Elia, Percy!" he shouted at them, swinging his bow into a draecaena's face. "Go!"

The two demigods snapped into action, exchanging sharp grins before diving into the throes of enemies. Horizon gleamed in Elia's hands, her skin glowing with golden light as she body-slammed an enemy half-blood, sending her tumbling to the ground. She flipped her sword lazily, knocking the girl out with her hilt in a single motion.

Percy had disappeared from Elia's sight, but all she could do was pray for his safety; she knew he could handle himself. As she sprinted by a pair of snake-women, she swung her blade in a wide arc, slicing both of their heads off cleanly. Golden dust flew through the air, settling on Elia's skin and making her glitter.

A shout rang through the air and the blonde's head snapped to the side. It's been so loud already, but this shout sounded familiar and panicked. She scanned the chaos, her eyes falling on an enemy demigod raising their sword, ready to strike down a familiar camper. Castor was on the ground, his weapon just out of reach, a wild gleam of panic in his eyes.

Elia burst into a run, throwing her hand out wide. A burst of white-hot light exploded from her palm, slamming into the enemy half-blood's face, knocking him back a step. Her blade flying at the speed of light, the daughter of Apollo slashed at the demigod, ducking and parrying all of his counter-attacks like she could do it in her sleep; she probably could.

Castor got off the ground quickly, joining the blonde girl in battling the half-blood, who was twice her size and a lot stronger. But she was quick, and she was powerful, and with their combined effort their opponent was soon disarmed, crumpling to the ground after taking Castor's spear shaft to the side of the head.

Panting, the son of Dionysus sent Elia a tired grin. "Thanks, Ellie."

"No problem," she shot back, before diving back into the battle. Her power flowed a little more freely from her now, bursts of light blinding opponent after opponent before she strikes them down with a swift blade. Dozens fell to her blade, dozens more sure to follow, her power rolling like the burning rays of the sun over the battlefield.