Chapter 55

[Third Person's PoV]

A bit earlier, which Thalia…

"I know some of you guys are thinking this will be an easy victory but I'll tell you guys right now, it's not."

One of Ares' kids scoffed, "Oh please Lady Thalia, you seriously want us to believe that we should be wary of such a runt. They are being lead by a 8 years old boy, with no leading experience"

Thalia's expression hardened, "Do not underestimate him, yes he may be young but he isn't any weaker than I am, in fact I'm unsure which one of us will be the victor.

Which is why Luke and I will charge ahead of everyone, as you all know Luke and I are the fastest in the camp so we will be able to go past everyone else.

I will hold off Lucian and while that happens I want Luke to go towards the flag and snatch it before they even know what happens and are able to react.

For the rest of you, expect some resistance to come your way, I want you in large groups as they will be harder to win against. I want you guys as backup in case we will need it."

The others looked between each other for a bit, Thalia hadn't let them down before so they nodded their heads in agreement.

'If I can't beat him in strength and skills I'll beat him in numbers' She thought while waiting for the horn, 'Knowing him he will be too prideful to use his shadow monsters and won't use them'

…

The present:

As the Apollo Cabin made their ways through the trees and wilderness they soon found the Ares cabin mixed with other members of their teams marching in front of them making their ways towards Lucian's direction.

Seeing them, the Apollo's cabin smirked as they took something out from the bag that the Hephaestus cabin gave them and hooked it to the end of their arrows. They took aim and fired it towards the ground, right by their opponents feets.

They at first looked at the arrow in confusion and were about to raise their shields but it was too late, the thing that was connected to the arrows went off, giving a blinding light.

"AAAARRGHH MY EYES!"

"I CAN'T SEE ANYTHING!"

"IS THIS EVEN ALLOWED!"

While they screamed in pain a couple soldiers from Lucian's team rushed towards them and started taking them down before they had a chance to recover. Each member started taking people as prisoners making them unable to attack or retaliate.

After they recovered from the flash they glared at their capturers, "What the hell was that? You used a freaking flashbang? I know we said magic items were allowed but a flashbang isn't a fucking magic item"

Athena's children smirked as one of them went on to explain, "Oh but that's where you're wrong. It is a magic item, it was made using the light from Apollo's children so by technicalities it's supernaturally made thus making it a magic item"

"Oh that's horse crap and you know it!" One of the prisoners from Ares cabin shouted, irritated.

"Hey~ why don't you release me, I'm sure you really want to do that" a child of Aphrodite softly asked using charm speak, a power most of them possess that lets them control other people with their voice/charm.

The one that spoke gained a glazed look over their eyes, "Okay!" He said enthusiastically as he went to open his move to declare her as free.

But as he went and opened his moves from the trees a small pebble hit the back of his head jolting him awake.

"Ah! That's right, you guys and your troublesome abilities" he said while rubbing his head, he took out another flash bang from his pouch and said, if any one of you talks I'll set it off, you guys saw first hand how lethal this could be.

'Luckily, he thought and warned us about this and told us to keep someone a few feet away where they wouldn't be affected to snap us out of it' he thought to himself as he threatened, which worked as they kept their mouths shut.

In the far distance they soon saw a bright light which was followed by screams of pain and clashing of swords, letting them know that everything was going according to plan.

…

The clouds started to come together growing darker and darker causing lightning to flash between them.

Lucian looked up and looked ahead, "Get ready they're coming"

"Who's they? Did our plan fail?" Annabeth asked as she took out her two daggers.

"Luke and Thalia"

As soon as Lucian said their names a dust cloud was soon making their way towards them. Lucian summoned his scythe and decided to turn it into a bo staff for his battle against Thalia.

Lucian then did something that took Annabeth by surprise, the sole of shoes turned into thrusters as black flames came from beneath him and sent him flying towards Thalia, "Take care of Luke, you know him best" was all he said as he blasted off.

Thalia seeing Lucian fast approaching smirked as Speed was what she was best at and had more experience in than Lucian.

They both then ready their weapons, Lucian had spun his staff around while Thalia held out her shield and pulled back her spear preparing it to strike.

Only a few seconds passed as they met in the middle with a large clash creating a large gust of wind around them due to the force. As Lucian staff hit Thalia's shield creating such force, they were sent flying back slightly causing them to adjust their footing and run towards each other once again.

This time Thalia thrusted her spear while Lucian blocked it with his staff slamming it down.

Lucian then made a kicking motion towards her which sent a blast of black fire to her causing her to raise her shield as a defense.

She surrounded herself in electricity and rushed towards him, she then made multiple stabbing motions turning her spear into a blur and tried to strike Lucian.

Lucian spun his staff blocking each strike and swung from the bottom upwards towards her, sending a large blast of fire causing her to roll back and block it with her shield.

As she blocked it Lucian stuck his staff into the ground and pulled it. It now had a large piece of the earth on it which Lucian used as a hammer and struck Thalia downwards with it.

Thalia raised her hand which had the shield up and took the strike which sent the piece of earth flying everywhere. Thalia felt the strength and force throughout her entire body causing her to shiver as her arm started to shake.

Seeing that her defense was down Lucian swung his staff hitting her right on her torso which sent her flying back and tumbling across the ground.

She quickly stood up recovering her form and swung her spear downwards causing the sky to crackle before sending a large bolt of lightning from the clouds and right on Lucian.

Luckily Lucian heard the sound before it struck which gave him the opportunity to move back and dodge it. But due to its speed Lucian was still caught in the blast which sent him flying back.

As Lucian flung back he did a flip in the air before slamming his staff on the ground slowing down his momentum.

And while that was happening Luke and Annabeth were fighting each other. Luke, using his fast agility at first, tried to get past Annabeth and get to the flag but she predicted his trajectory and sent her dagger flying ahead where Luke would have ended up causing him to stop running.

Annabeth rushed towards Luke and swung her dagger towards his openings in the armor but Luke simply blocked it with the side of his sword before swinging his sword down towards Annabeth.

Annabeth rolled back but Luke increased his speed, "Come on Annabeth. I don't want to hurt you, just give up already."

Annabeth smirked and didn't say anything as she reached to her side where her dagger had respawn. She now had an easier time blocking Luke's strikes and seeing such, Luke increased the speed of strikes causing sparks to fly off their weapons as they collided.

"I can't quiet now. Come on Luke you know that" Annabeth said as she realized that Luke was pushing her back towards the flag. So not caring if she got hurt in the process started to let go of her defensive nature and went towards attacking.

A few of Luke's sword strikes ended up hitting her armor as she turned aggressive with her dagger.

As a cut appeared on Annabeth's arm, legs, and thighs, and a cut appeared on Luke's thighs. Seeing that a smirk appeared on her face confusing Luke as she only managed to scratch him once and then it hit him. He began to really slowly down at a noticeable level making it hard to move his limbs.

"Wh- what's going on?" He asked in surprise

"Oh? Didn't you know? Ah it appears I forgot to tell you. One of the enchantments Lucian put on the daggers was a paralysis kind. Don't worry it'll wear off easily but that just means I would have to keep cutting you for it to continue working, sorry in advance" Annabeth said with the same smirking expression and winking at Luke.

Causing him to sigh at his plunder, it was very difficult for him to move at the moment, making him realized he may have fucked up their only chance at winning.