Perseus Jackson: Gladiator (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Hell Unleashed

Copyright © 2015 runwild14. All rights reserved

*THIS HAS BEEN EDITED*

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THIRD PERSON POV

Germania

A lone figure stood in the middle of a blackened landscape, scanning his eyes over the barren plain. He was around 6'2" and looked to be very well built. He had raven-black hair and a strong yet handsome face. But what stood out most were his eyes. They were a piercing sea-green, and seemed to be looking into your very soul, picking you apart bit by bit. Just by looking at this person, one could tell he was not a man to be crossed. He radiated an air of confidence and power, and he looked as if he knew what he was doing with it. Behind him on a hill were thousands of soldiers, resting after a long battle. The figure looked around the battlefield and sighed. He knew it would come to this, a hard-fought final battle to end this great campaign. A part of him wished the barbarians would simply give in, but he knew that was impossible, for this was their homeland and they would fight for it to their last breath. He respected them for that, but he was hoping to be home sooner.

In the distance, the thundering of hooves could be heard. The figure glanced up and surveyed the group nearing the hill. His scouts had returned. He started to walk up the paths cut into the hill to hear the report that was to be given by the scouts. As he passed by the soldiers they planted their shields in the ground and kneeled, most with smiles on their faces, and spoke one word. "General." It was obvious that this was a respected figure, although it didn't look as though he simply commanded respect. It appeared that he had earned it and was well-liked for what he had done.

When he reached the command post, marked by the purple SPQR flag, he noticed that one of his scouts had yet to return. He shook it off as he heard his second-in-command give a soldier an order. "You-soldier. I ordered those catapults to be moved further backwards." The figure quickly dismissed that order, saying, "The range is good." His second-in-command looked at him with wide eyes. "But sir, the potential damage to our cavalry—" The general cut him off. "Is acceptable." "Where is the last scout?" he asked.

Suddenly, a horse broke out of the tree-line on the opposite side of the field and galloped towards the army. Once it got closer, it was easily recognized as the scout's horse. It was also easy to see the headless body of the scout atop the horse. Then from the trees a shout of defiance was heard. The leader of the barbarians was standing there, holding the head of the scout in his hands. From the forest around him came more war cries as the remainder of the barbarian army gathered on the opposite side of the plains.

The second-in-command spoke with annoyance laced through his voice, "Why can't they understand they've been conquered?" The general answered, "Would you, Quintus? Would I?" With that said, the general bent down, scooped up some of the soil, and rubbed it between his hands. He then turned to Quintus. "Strength and Honor," he said before mounting his horse. It was answered by an identical "Strength and Honor" from Quintus. Just before he rode off, he looked down at Quintus and said, "On my command, unleash hell."

As he galloped by the soldiers, they stood and began preparing to attack. "Load the catapults," Quintus ordered. "Infantry form up for advance! Archers ready!" The archers nocked their arrows and lit the tips on fire. The catapults were locked in place and the ball was lit on fire as well. As this was happening, the general rode off into the woods in search of his cavalry. Unknown to the barbarians, he had set them up behind enemy lines. When the battle started, the barbarians would be caught between the archers and the infantry. When he reached them he slowed his horse to a walk and began to speak. "Three weeks from now, I will be back with my family. Imagine where you will be, and it will be so."

"Hold the line and stay with me. If you find yourself alone, riding across green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled, for you are in Elysium, so you are already dead!" This was greeted with rounds of laughter from the men. After they had quieted down he said, "Brothers! What we do in life, echoes in eternity!" With that said, he gave his archer the signal to fire the flare and start the battle.

When the signal was seen by Quintus, he immediately shouted, "Archers! Draw!" He then swept his flag in a downward motion, and the archers released their arrows, while the catapults released their own flaming projectiles. Almost immediately afterward, cries of pain could be heard from across the battlefield. The survivors of the first wave of air strikes grouped together and charged. The Roman infantry ran to meet them.

As this was happening, the cavalry was beginning their march towards the enemy from behind. While the barbarians were distracted by the infantry, the cavalry struck. The barbarians turned to face them as they emerged from the trees, but they were caught in the middle of the two groups and it quickly turned into a massacre. The barbarians were taken out one by one, but they took a few Roman soldiers with them as well. For the next several hours all that was seen were weapons sinking into flesh and blood everywhere. The general was right in the middle of the fighting, his sword an arc of pure destruction. He had dismounted his horse in favor of fighting on his feet, and all those who dared to face him were disposed of almost effortlessly by the general. As the battle wore on, the Romans decimated the barbarian army, until at last there was no one left, and the 20-year long campaign was finally over. A large cry of victory went up from the Roman side, and they began to chant their general's name. "Perseus, Perseus, Perseus..." could be heard well into the night, and it was a name the Romans would not soon forget.