Chapter 183: Lucian Vs. Heracles (2)

[Third Person's PoV] 

While Lucian and Heracles initially began fighting, Annabeth sighed, thinking, 'Luckily, I know how Lucian would react, and knowing him, he would want me to do this…'

She turned toward Ares. "How about a bet?"

"Oh? What could you possibly possess that would entice me to accept this bet?" Ares asked, more interested in Annabeth's confidence.

"I don't possess anything of great importance really, We'll only just bet the Master Bolt in exchange for the Helm of Darkness, which I know you have," Annabeth said sarcastically with a confident grin.

"What makes you think I have the helm?" Ares questioned. "And let's say, hypothetically, that I do have it—what would the bet entail?"

Annabeth kept her eyes locked on Ares as she pointed toward Lucian and Heracles. "The outcome of their fight. I say Lucian will win. If he wins, we get the helm. If he loses, you get the bolt."

"ARE YOU CRAZY?!" they all shouted, shocked by Annabeth's audacious wager.

"You can't make such an outrageous bet! That's Heracles we're talking about! The strongest demigod! Lucian doesn't stand a chance, no matter how powerful he is," Grover said with a worried expression.

Thalia wore an uncomfortable expression before closing her eyes and deciding to put her trust in Annabeth and Lucian. They always knew what they were doing.

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!" Ares laughed boisterously. "WHAT A RIDICULOUS BET! YOU WANT TO LOSE SO BADLY? FINE! LET'S–"

"Wait," Percy interrupted, stepping forward with a serious expression. "I'd like to change the terms of the bet."

"What—what are you doing?" Annabeth asked, bewildered. This wasn't part of the plan.

"Oh? I'm listening," Ares said, amused.

"Let Lucian fight Heracles for possession of the Helm. I, Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, challenge you, Ares, God of War, for the ownership of the Master Bolt," Percy declared.

"HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!" Clarisse shouted.

Annabeth turned to Percy, eyes wide. "Why are you doing this?"

Percy kept his gaze fixed on Ares, who was now smirking in amusement. "He's toyed with Clarisse's and my life too many times. I want my payback. This is for trying to get me killed and, most of all, to make him leave us alone. His presence is beyond annoying."

Clarisse stared at Percy in shock, her eyes glistening with emotion. 'He's… he's willing to fight my father… for my sake?'

---

Heracles eyed Lucian's transformation with amusement. "You're an interesting demigod, I'll give you that. Answer me this," Heracles said, pointing his club at Lucian. "Why do you wish to fight me? Is it simply because I hold the title of the strongest demigod, or is there more to it? What are you trying to prove, little demi?"

Lucian summoned his scythe and transformed it into a bo staff, spinning it rapidly as he assumed a fighting stance. "I wish to see the summit," he said.

Heracles' eyes widened before he burst into laughter. "HAHAHAHAHAHA! I LIKE YOU! YOU'RE MAKING ME EXCITED! BRING IT!"

Heracles watched Lucian intently. As Lucian stepped forward, he vanished and reappeared at Heracles' left side, swinging the bo staff down and striking him across the face.

Surprised, Heracles' instincts kicked in. He grabbed the staff and used it to hurl Lucian to the ground, kicking up sand. He raised his foot to stomp on Lucian, but Lucian dissolved into black smoke before his foot landed.

The smoke shifted, forming multiple copies of Lucian, each wielding a bo staff and attacking Heracles. Smirking, Heracles swung his club, shattering most of the shadow clones. The real Lucian blocked the strike with his staff but was still sent flying.

Skidding to a stop, Lucian anchored the staff behind him. "Length!" he commanded, and the staff extended, propelling him at blinding speed toward Heracles.

Lucian leaped with both legs, enhancing his strength with darkness and magic, and struck Heracles square in the chest, making him skid back. Lucian swung the staff down again. "Width!" The staff expanded into a pillar and slammed into Heracles.

Heracles caught the pillar with one hand, absorbing the shockwave as it sent sand flying, forming a crater beneath him. Before he could react further, Lucian returned the staff to its normal size and pointed it at the ground. "Grow."

Their shadows expanded, and the pillar reappeared beneath Heracles, hitting him with enough force to launch him skyward.

Lucian aimed his staff down once more. "Length," he said, shooting himself up into the sky to pursue Heracles. Passing him, Lucian spun and aimed. "Grow!" The pillar shot downward at Heracles with immense speed.

Chuckling, Heracles released his club and raised his arms. The pillar collided with him, forcing him downward with such force that his sandals and feet caught fire. He crashed into the beach, creating an explosion of sand and forming a massive crater with a large and squared squat.

The impact sent everyone sprawling, screaming in shock. Ares remained standing, eyes narrowed. "It seems our duel will wait until theirs is finished, little guppy."

The others slowly stood, Annabeth glaring at Ares. "Swear on the River Styx that you'll uphold the terms we discussed, no matter the outcome."

"You don't get to command me, little girl," Ares growled.

"What's wrong? Afraid to commit?" Thalia taunted, supporting her friends.

Ares snarled. "I'm the God–"

"Yes, yes, we've heard it a million times. You're the God of War. So are you agreeing, or are you too scared?" Percy challenged.

Ares' sunglasses melted as his eyes turned to flames. "Do not test my patience, boy! Just because I indulge your whims doesn't mean I won't kill you here and now! Fine! You have a death wish? I accept the duel. Once their fight concludes, we'll battle. I swear on the River Styx."

The sky rumbled with lightning, illuminating Lucian's tiny figure.

"That's my big brother," Nico muttered with admiration.

…

As the sky rumbled, the pillar was too wide for Heracles to gain a proper grip, which gave Lucian the opportunity to call it back.

He decided to switch tactics. His bo staff transformed into a bow, and black leather wings suddenly sprouted from his back, as if the night sky itself were supporting him. The darkness coalesced into a beautiful ebony arrow, which gained a red hue and a black flame at its tip.

As Lucian charged the arrow with power, he removed his helmet, allowing his black hair to whip around in the wind. At that moment, he looked like an illustrated piece of art—a crescent moon framing his form, his black wings fully spread, one eye closed while the other burned a vivid red. He raised one leg slightly and muttered under his breath.

"For some reason, I can't help but think of you, Lady Artemis. What do you think of my form right now?"

'Your form is beautiful… worthy of high praise… Now release your hold'

Lucian smirked at the uncharacteristically soft tone of her voice. "As you wish, My Lady."

---

Heracles looked up, puzzled. "Did… Did he run—"

He cut himself off and scoffed. "That little bastard is charging up an attack where I can't reach him."

Heracles grinned as he saw the black beam of energy swirling with black and red. He laughed and spread his arms as if to catch it. "BRING IT ON! LET'S SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO!!"

He kicked off his sandals, wiggling his toes in the sand, but realized too late that the beam kept growing in size as it approached rapidly. 

Just as he prepared to meet it head-on, his instincts screamed at him, 'What? This could actually hurt me!?'

The arrow, shot from Lucian's enchanted bow, was designed to bypass both physical and magical defenses.

Heracles grinned even as he winced at the heat burning his palms. "HAHAHAHAHA!!!!"

He pushed back against the force. "Ahhhhhh!!!" he roared as he squeezed his hands together.

*BOOM!*

The accumulated energy exploded in a billow of black smoke. Heracles took a step back from the force, surprised. As the smoke cleared, he found himself holding the arrow just centimeters from his face. 

"He wasn't playing around… Good, because neither will I now," Heracles smirked and crushed the arrow in his hand.

"I let you have your fun. Now it's my turn," he said with a demonic grin, glancing at his trembling hands that bore tiny burn marks.

He stomped the ground and shot upward like a rocket, appearing before Lucian where he floated.

Lucian's eyes widened as Heracles' grinning face came into view. His helmet quickly reformed around his head. "Let's talk about this like proper adults."

Heracles' grin only widened as he clasped his hands together.

"Pumpernickels," Lucian muttered in resignation.

Heracles slammed his joined hands into Lucian's torso with such force that blood sprayed from his mouth, splattering the inside of his helmet.

Lucian's body rocketed down through the night sky like a falling star, crashing between the sand and sea with enough impact to send water and sand flying. Blood leaked from his helmet as he groaned, "Ugh… I think I broke a rib… or five."

Looking up from where he'd fallen, Lucian saw Heracles descending with his foot aimed straight for his head. 

He quickly rolled to the side, letting the force of Heracles' landing propel him backward. He tumbled across the ground before spinning up to his feet.

"I almost died… I almost actually died. Not to mention the taste of blood in my mouth. Breathing hurts, talking hurts, but I'm having the greatest time of my life!" Lucian laughed, barely able to see straight from the pain.

"MORE, MORE, BRING IT ON, HERACLES! I WON'T CALL MYSELF THE VICTOR UNTIL I SEE YOUR ICHOR!"

"HAHAHAHA, I CAN'T WAIT!" Heracles roared back.

---

"They're going to kill each other, aren't they?" Thalia asked with a wary expression.

Annabeth wore an awkward expression. "Yup."

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