Percy felt it when he awoke in the infirmary. He felt something in his chest as he killed the minotaur.
At first he thought it wasn't anything, but then it happened again after fighting ares, and In the sea of monsters.
He lived for the fight. He thrived for the fights. He felt alive for the fights.
So when Percy was finally on the quest for Artemis it was at the best part.
"I got you," Percy said, pointing anaklusmos at atlas.
"Is thou suicidal," Zoe said grabbing percys arm as Percy stared at the laughing atlas.
"She is right boy," Artemis said from below the sky.
Percy's hand shook and his gaze never wavering as he stared at atlas.
"No no, I suppose this shall do, I shall at least humor you with a duel before you die," Atlas said walking in front of Luke and the army behind him.
"He lies," Zoe hissed at Percy. Percy finally looked at his friends behind him for the first time.
Annabeth was out of breath, Thalia could fight, but was focused on covering annabeth. Grover had his Reed pipes at the ready, his nerves apparent since his breath wasn't steady.
"It would be wiser to kill them n-" Luke began talking to Atlas before being interrupted.
"Silence, I've been released from under the sky after who knows how long. Let me stretch by killing Poseidon's favorite son,"Atlas said.
"Swear on the styx that if I win this battle you'll let us go," Percy said stepping into the arena that atlas made.
"I swear on the river Styx that should you beat me in combat I'll let you go," Atlas repeated as the sound of thunder was heard in the distance.
"Percy wait," Annabeth spoke weakly about telling Percy about the obvious flaw in his plan.
Percy dashed forward and swung his sword at atlas. His sword barely left a scratch that healed instantly.
Atlas merely laughed and kicked Percy, who had defended by using the flat of his blade. The force behind the kick sent Percy flying a good distance.
"Percy," he heard the voice of Thalia yelling at him.
Percy stood and shook his head clearing the blurriness in his vision just in time to dodge atlas grab.
"You know what. How about I beat you at your own games,"Atlas said before summoning his javelin. He paused before his javelin morphed into a sword.
Percy's body tensed up before he rolled to the side as the atlas blade slashed vertically. The force behind the slash barely missed Percy as he felt air pressure pass right by him, just missing his arm.
"Ah, my apologies. I'm rusty, that should have cut your head in one fell swoop. But you dodge that, so for that you have my praise," atlas said.
Percy looked behind him and looked at the slash behind him. Was he seriously able to beat someone as powerful as that?
"Don't tell me I scared you?" Atlas said before appearing in front of Percy swinging his blade.
Percy's pupils narrowed as he raised his sword, deflecting the sword with a mighty cling.
Percy finally felt this feeling he was craving for. His blood rushed through his body as he began attacking atlas once more.
Atlas merely raised his sword to deflect percy's attack, though this time he wasn't as joking as before.
"You know. I'm starting to find you a really annoying demigod. You're like an ant that's only job is to do other biddings. A SLAVE,"Atlas said before delivering a downward slash that brought Percy to his knees.
Percy grunted before rolling backwards before rolling into a monster that held a shield.
Percy grabbed the shield and pulled, however the monster was as surprised as Percy before trying to pull back before Percy just yanked it.
The water on the bay was getting restless. On the shore Princess Andromeda was getting rocked by waves threatening to topple the Cruz ship.
Percy's excitement in this fight could be felt on Mount Othrys too, as suddenly the water was moving more chaotically. Kinda like how Percy was fighting.
Percy blocked Atlas' strike with his shield once more, but this time it wasn't fear vs an immovable force. Now it was excitement vs an obstacle.
"Hurry up. Kronos has plans that need to be fulfilled," Luke told atlas.
"Bah, he can wait. But this demigod on the other hand needs to die first. I'll show him why trying to resist is pointless,"Atlas said before finally giving up on the so-called duel.
Atlas sword switched to his javelin form, forcing Percy on defense. But you can't say that there wasn't a smile on Percy's face.
"I understand it now," Percy said as he walked forward and removed the strap to his shield and walked forward towards atlas.
Atlas had thought the kid had given up, but when he went to attack, he saw the boy dodge narrowly and walked faster towards him.
Percy felt the small amount of water from the pool surrounding his feet heightening his instincts, strength, and regeneration. His vision got clearer and things felt slow.
Percy just held his sword. No stance, no defense, no offense just pure Unpredictability.
"Yes I see. So that's why I couldn't hit you. You naturally have an advantage in this fight because you know how a sword user would fight," Percy said before laughing almost Psychotically.
The monsters seemed to grow restless, Artemis was still under the moon with Zoe laying down besides Artemis and Grover treating her wounds. Thalia was preventing Luke from interfering with the duel, since that was the most she could do at the moment.
"Gosh why didn't I think of that. Of course you would know what move I would make. You guys practically invented the Greek style," Percy said before coming back from his mental breakdown.
Percy attacked like a hurricane. His sword clashing with atlas with a mighty clash. This time Percy wasn't thrown back, nor was he pushed back. No now he stood his ground.
"Enough," Atlas yelled.
Atlas used his bullshit ability causing Percy to fly backwards, And causing him to roll multiple times.
Percy's heard heard the wind rushing and raised his sword to block. The initial strike wasn't bade, but it wasn't until atlas punched Percy firmly in the chest that it hurt.
Percy flew, and this time right in front of Artemis who was still carrying the sky.
"Percy," Annabeth's blood curdling yell was heard clearly.
But Percy's body didn't move, couldn't move more like.
The only thing Percy could see was Artemis struggling eyes as she alone bore the weight of the sky.
"I told you from the beginning how this would end demigod but you didn't listen. Now look at you. You should have joined us so I could fight you forever. But no, look at you, dying at the feet of the Olympian you tried to save." Atlas said before his javelin transformed into a spear as he raised it for the kill.
"Tried?" Came Percy's small whisper as atlas spear came down. The ocean water covered the entire floor, filling Percy with adrenaline Crack.
Percy grabbed atlas spear as he stared him dead in the eyes as atlas realized his mistake.
Percy kicked atlas feet, and since he was already mid stab he fell forward as his spear impaled itself on the earth.
Percy rolled behind Atlas before raising his foot and kicking Atlas straight in the balls. Again and again and again. Until grabbing him and carrying to the sky freeing Artemis from her burden.
Percy looked around as he saw the stunned faces of everyone.
"Attack," came Luke's cry as the monsters finally began attacking our crew.
But why would the monsters want to fight? They just saw freaking atlas get manhandled, and said the guy was STILL smiling.
"You better run castellan. Because I promise you won't get a second chance," Percy said as Thalia called down lightning.
Luke just smiled and Percy felt something off. He finally looked at the coast and saw the absolute monster party that was already coming uphill.
"Not even you can fight us all. Even with a goddess by your side," Luke said almost as if he was proud of himself.
Percy closed his eyes and focused on the ocean trying to force it to his will. Percy felt a third party at play as he began wrestling for control.
With a twist in his gut Percy was about to call upon a hurricane when he heard the sounds of a plane.
Low and behold there was Mr chase in a plane shooting bullets, not just any bullets mind you but celestial bronze bullets.
"Get in" Percy heard Artemis say before he turned and saw Santa's sleigh.
As soon as Percy got in and the water at his feet was released he immediately passed out on the floor, as they made their narrow escape.
(End of chapter 1)