Percy Jackson - Bane of Tartarus

Chapter 18

Percy's POV

He brought his hammer in a downward arc which I easily side-stepped and slashed his right thigh making a shallow gash. The titan of destruction bellowed in pain. I guess for a titan of destruction he has a pretty low threshold of pain. I should give him a headache them.

"Hey Perses! It's Perses right. Do you know my name?" I spoke as I dodged a sideway swing which would have been very bad for my ribs.

"Yes Percy Jackson. I am familiar with you" He tried to jab me with his hammer which I managed to dodge by stepping back but I stumbled on something and fell. His hammer hit the ground creating a crack on the point of impact.

"But do you know what Percy is short for?" I asked rolling to my right just as he started to bring his hammer down again and before he could swing again I was on my feet.

"It stands for Perseus after the fool of a son Zeus had. Now shut up and let me kill you." He spoke with frustration clear in his voice which only increased with every swing and miss. Before he could swing again I made a deep gash on his left arm and the titan bellowed in pain and anger.

"Oh come on, don't be like that, our names are similar. I know I am bad at small talk but there aren't many people to talk here in Tartarus and after this battle you'll be gone too", I replied cheekily which had the intended effect on the titan. He started swinging his hammer without thinking.

I was rolling and ducking all the while making some shallow gashes on titans back and knees. Things were going very smoothly when his hammer started shinning and with every swing it released a shockwave. I wasn't able to anticipate this and a shockwave hit me in the chest. I could have sworn I heard something crack as I hit a rock 10ft behind me. I could taste the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. My chest felt like an elephant just walked on it but I had to get up and fight if I didn't want to become a blood stain as I saw the titan smirking and walking towards me. I had to buy more time so I could stand up. I concentrated on the water within me and I could feel the writhing tides of the ocean within me. I willed the water into a jet and felt a very painful tug in my gut but I kept going. The palms felt like a pair of fire hose as the water pushed the titan back with immense force.

I took a quick long breath and yelled, "Achilles" at top of my lungs which confused the titan and the giant while Artemis gave me a quick glance and taking advantage of the situation resumed fighting. As the brief moment of confusion passed the titan looked and laughed loudly.

"Getting delusional Jackson. Did you hit your head?" He laughed again. A smile crept on my face as I heard loud thumping making the titan raise an eyebrow. Before he could say anything the thumping became very loud and turned to look behind. I took it as my cue to start standing up.

"A drakon", Perses growled as the monster came into view.

"A Maeonian drakon to be exact." I corrected him on which he made the mistake of looking back at me. Just as he turned back to look at the drakon its tail slammed the titan sending him flying atleast a 50 feet but sadly after a groan and a very angry cry the titan charged again. Calling the drakon gave me enough time to stand up and get into the fight once again.

"So Perses, How did you like my little friend?" I smirked and prepared to dodge his attacks. He wasn't in a better shape either, ichor flowing from a bunch of cuts all over his body some of which were presents from me.

As he came swinging wildly, shockwaves emanating from his hammer, I kept dodging his attacks while the drakon barely felt them. I glanced at Artemis to see how she was doing. She had her hunting knives in her hand as her quiver was empty. A broken arrow was sticking out of her left thigh with ichor staining her jeans. It was clear that she was tired and won't last long. I had to help her. I pulled out a hunting knife in my left hand as I sidestepped a vertical swing that would have easily shattered my shoulders or head or both. I plunged the hunting knife into the titan's side just below the ribs. I put every ounce of strength I could muster at that instant into that stab resulting in my knife piercing his armour and buried upto the hilt in his abdomen. The titan staggered back a few steps as I took a few steps back to get a breathing room. Perses was on his knees and I took advantage of the situation and charged him.

He looked at me in surprise and before he had time to dodge or block I sliced his head clean off. I looked at drakon and pointed towards Orion.

"Go help the Goddess", I said panting heavily holding my chest which by the way was still hurting. Achilles ran towards the giant. I looked at the beheaded body of the titan of destruction as it dissolved into golden dust but as his body turned into dust I felt my strength getting restored and the pain in my chest residing. It didn't disappear but I was more than ready to fight again. I quickly picked up the knife and ran towards Artemis.

I saw Achilles spewing poison towards Orion which he dodged but due to the poison Artemis wasn't able to take advantage of the distraction as her quiver was empty.

"Lady Artemis, what's the plan?" I asked as I stopped beside her.

"Your monster is hogging my battle. Call it back before I kill it." I nodded.

"Achilles! Heel!" I shouted and then began to laugh but stopped as Artemis raised an eyebrow. My drakon retreated behind me allowing me and Artemis to charge the giant who himself wasn't looking very good but still in a better form than Artemis. A number of gashes were all over his body with a single arrow wounds. Artemis was also looking very tired and had a couple of wounds herself, most prominent ones being one in her left thigh and a grazed left shoulder.

I started fighting the giant trying to get himself to lower his guard. Although he was getting tired he still was fast, much faster than Perses. I blocked one of his knives with my sword while tried to parry other with my knife to slip into his guard but he anticipated my move. He relieved me of my knife and plunged his own just beneath my left collar bone. I staggered back taking his knife with me. Artemis saw this and joined the fight to buy me some time to recover.

I took out the knife from my shoulder and threw it as far as I could behind me. I didn't waste any second joining the fight. The giant had only one weapon as he tried to defend himself from both me and Artemis. I saw an opening and swung Riptide in an upward arc severing giant's right hand just below his elbow. He bellowed in pain but before he got time to come to his senses Artemis pushed him to the ground and I plunged my sword into his stomach. Artemis put her feet on giant's still intact left wrist.

"Stay dead longer this time" She smirked and plunged her knife into Orion's heart.

"One day Artemis. One day you will bear my child", with a painful cry he turned into dust making my wounds disappear. No wonder Artemis won't go out with him, I mean no one talks about having kids without even being on a date. I have to say though, even after over 2000 years and being rejected multiple times he doesn't give-up hope, Hestia would be proud of him. I looked around to see Artemis glaring at me, I didn't know why. Oh no! She must have read my mind. I'm so screwed. 'I'm sorry, Lady Artemis. Please don't kill me. I have people waiting for me up there', I thought out loud so if she was still going through my 'archives' then she would have heard it and I think it worked because I was still alive.

Hey guys, this story just turned 18 :P I hope you like it although I know fighting scenes are sub par at best but I'm learning. Maybe there will be better and longer fights in the chapters to come. See-ya next time!