The Spirits of the Universe (PJO)

Chapter 70--I Fight Alone

Before anyone could move, the soldiers appeared from the basement. The rest of the squadrons paused, staring at them in shock.

"You didn't kill them?" one of the soldiers in the circle asked me. 

I shrugged my shoulders. "I didn't feel like it. Didn't really want to get blood on my clothes."

"What are you doing?" Niyomina demanded. "Charge!"

The soldiers swarmed towards us like a pack of bees, but they'd stopped long enough for me to even the numbers. I spun around and sliced at the ropes. Aridne gracefully twisted her body and landed on her feet, while Liam yelped in pain as he took the impact headfirst.

Well, maybe not even the numbers exactly—but three was better than one.

"Impossible," Niyomina gasped. "The strength of those ropes was guaranteed by Lady Eternity herself."

"You said they were primordial restraining—not sword proof," I shot back.

I think that still should be covered by her claim, End pointed out.

Primordials do tend to be stronger than swords, Order agreed.

It worked, so why don't you two take your logic somewhere else? I've got a battle to win. 

"Deal with the soldiers," I ordered Liam and Aridne. "Leave Niyomina to me."

They tried protesting immediately, but I cut them off. "I'm in no mood to talk to you. But . . . I don't think none of us want to die here, right?"

They're smart and strong, End observed when Liam and Aridne hesitated for a moment, then nodded and faced the soldiers. But how will you separate Niyomina from her soldiers?

You're worried about that? I asked. That's the easiest part.

Then I yelled, "Hey, Niyomina! You know that lipstick color has been out of fashion since, like, forever, right? You look like you just came out of a tomb!"

She bit the bait. "Leave him for me," she growled, and the soldiers surrounding me backed up. It's just too easy.

Any chance you know how she fights? I asked.

Well, she uses a scimitar, End replied as Niyomina stepped forward, revealing the shining blade in her hands.

A serrated blade, Order hummed. You know it's a bad idea to get hit with that, right?  She'll be stronger with slashes, but you'll have the advantage with Riptide's stabbing range.

This'll be easy, then. I charged.

That's what I said, but I didn't really believe that. End and Order had never been very helpful before any fights. Usually, with all their nagging, it felt like they were trying to make me lose. If they'd forwent their usual tradition, that either meant that they'd had a change of heart overnight (which was impossible), or . . . 

. . . my opponent was strong.

So I went all out. The first clash of our blades was so strong that it made my jaw vibrate. 

If Niyomina felt any impact, she didn't show it through her rage-filled eyes. She stepped back, regained her footing, then immediately attacked once again.

We crossed blades for what seemed like hours. All around us, soldiers rushed towards the twin statues, where Liam and Aridne had decided to take their last stand. 

These guys know no shame, desecrating my memorial like that, End scoffed. 

Don't worry about them, Percy, Order said. They're strong, and you can still hear them fighting. They'll be able to stall for time. This all relies on you.