Rise (Percy Jackson x Reader)

eighteen

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this chapter contains a detailed mention of an injury which can be classified as slightly graphic. the description starts at the first '♛' and ends at the second.
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edited: april 2, 2021; sept 21, 2023
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"Hydra!" Annabeth yells, and (Y/N) pulls Percy and Grover away.

The four run to the columns at their left, and (Y/N) warns, "Guys, watch out, the middle one spews fire!" Her hair whips around her face as she slides behind a column, the heat kissing her skin as the flames narrowly miss her.

It wasn't as hot as she thought it would be.

Percy's jacket sleeve catches on fire, and he exclaims in fear, letting go of the pearl as he pulls his arm back. (Y/N) watches from around the corner of her pillar as the pearl rolls along the smooth tiles, stopping when it reaches the small grate on the floor. Hearing a screech from her right, she whips her head around, leaning backwards just in time to avoid having her arm ripped out.

Taking a millisecond to prepare her attack, she thrusts her blade forward, and it meets its mark right in front of the hinge of the monster's jaw. It roars in pain and draws its head back immediately, giving (Y/N) a window of opportunity. Seeing her friends taking care of their own situations (Annabeth has opted for a similar stabbing attack, Percy is shielding himself while trying to get a hit with Riptide, and Grover is throwing candy from his pockets into the monster's mouth), she uses the column for momentum, gripping the edge and pushing herself forward. She sprints across the freshly-cleaned tiles, skidding to a stop behind the Hydra with a loud squeak.

Its attention diverts to (Y/N). Percy uses the distraction to his advantage, backing up for a running start. His winged shoes carry him up into the air, and he dodges the fire from the center head as he starts attacking. One of the heads moves towards him, and Percy swings his left arm, the shield knocking the head to the side, giving Percy a clear shot at its neck.

With horror, (Y/N) watches as he takes it.

She and Annabeth continue to shout protests as he expertly slices off the monster's heads, dodging its mouths and maneuvering easily. The beast releases screeches of pain until Percy slices through its final neck. Its body falls, limp, to the floor, the five heads dropping with soft thuds and dissolving with hisses of smoke.

Percy lands, holding his arms out in victory. "How flippin' awesome was that?" Grover lets out a whoop, and Percy continues, "I just killed that thing!"

(Y/N) frantically drops her blades and steps towards the body, sending thick vines out from the center of her palms and commanding them to wrap around and restrain the monster as best she can. 

"Killed it?" Annabeth asks, furious. "You only made it worse."

"What are you talking about?" Percy breathes, confused. Behind him, more smoke emits from the beast, and its necks begin to lift off the tiles.

"Percy, when you cut off one Hydra head . . ." Annabeth starts, watching with wide eyes as (Y/N) starts slipping, being pulled towards the monster. The girl grits her teeth, widening her stance and pivoting her back foot as she grunts, pulling her arms back with force to tighten the vines wrapped around the Hydra's body. 

"—Two more grow back."

Percy turns around, watching as (Y/N)'s vines slowly burn to ash as the Hydra's skin sizzles with heat. The necks flail around, narrowly avoiding columns as the body begins to push itself upward. With a yelp of surprise, (Y/N) is lifted off the floor and thrown to the side, the vines disconnecting from her palms as she flies through the air. She lets out a cry of pain as she lands on her injured arm, skidding to a stop near the group. Grover runs over to her. She hisses as she props herself up with her arm, the bandage loosening. She uses Grover for support while pulling herself up, brushing off his effort to help her keep her balance.