Let Them Think That

17

Artemis PoV

Percy was still at the castle-turned-monster nest, but he had been very helpful.

Without the warning of nearby monsters, I would not have been able to strategically place my hunters, and we certainly would not have captured the cyclops.

I walked into the tent that served as a dungeon for the snarling cyclops.

"Be civil," I snapped. "If you cooperate you may even be allowed to join the ranks under Poseidon."

"I think I'd prefer something else if I cooperate," the cyclops sneered.

I cocked an eyebrow before quickly realizing what he had meant. "I don't believe my husband would appreciate that."

"Husband?" The cyclops asked. "But you're the maiden goddess!"

I could tell he was interested. "Tell you what. You tell me everything you know about the monster operations, and I'll tell you about my husband."

The cyclops nodded, and I was a bit surprised that he was so curious about Percy.

I called Athena, and she appeared quickly. "He has agreed to tell us everything he knows in exchange for information on my husband."

Athena nodded. "Start talking."

Percy PoV

The monsters had all gathered in the arena for a fight to their deaths.

With the mass amount of monsters, it was set up that there would be ten groups of two hundred monsters. Each group would go into the arena, and when there were one hundred left, the round would end.

After this, the remaining groups would join to make five groups of two hundred, and they'd do the same as before.

When there were five hundred monsters remaining, groups two hundred and fifty would go against one another until there were fifty remaining in each group.

Finally, the remaining hundred monsters would fight until ten remained.

And the part that I knew, the forces would be called in at this point and the ten powerful monsters would be captured.

The demigods that had turned to the monsters were sent to have their own tournament, where there would really be gods to detain them.

I clapped loudly, and the matches began.

The monsters were vicious, fighting to prove themselves worthy and powerful.

Surprisingly, it took a mere fifteen minutes for the largest groups to be halved.

It was the smaller groups with tougher creatures that took longer.

It took a full three hours for the group of a hundred to be narrowed down to ten.

At this point, the forces came and detained nine of the ten monsters.

The tenth ran, using incredible strength to break through the wall.

Shedding my disguise, I ran after the werewolf, painfully aware that he was headed straight for a group of unsuspecting hunters in training.

Thinking quickly, I let out an ungodly howl, alerting just about every living creature within a ten-mile radius of our location.

As we came closer to the camp, I sensed Artemis in the area with relief, knowing the hunters were safe.

Artemis PoV