A stormy arrival
a few minutes ago.
"What is that?" Percy said as he looked ahead, while his mother drove down the road. Sally narrowed her eyes for a moment, a faint look of confusion crossing her face, before slowing down.
Up ahead, there seemed to be a traffic checkpoint, with armed men on both sides of the road, even forming a perimeter. Normally, in towns this remote, it wasn't common to see something like this. It was obvious that whatever trouble Clarisse had gotten into might have something to do with these men.
"Aren't humans supposed to stay out of things from your world?" Sally asked with a confused look, glancing at the boys.
"That's how it should be, but it's not a universal rule. After all, there are many seers who can see monsters. And many intelligent monsters make deals in the human world. The same happens with campers who graduate. At some point, they have to enter the human world," Annabeth added seriously.
As they talked, Sally's car approached the checkpoint and a soldier immediately raised his hand for them to stop, holding a shotgun like he was ready to fire at any moment.
"Turn around. This area is completely closed. No vehicles in or out. Turn around," the soldier said in a firm, commanding tone.
"Could I know what's going on?" Sally asked gently, with a friendly smile.
Right at that moment, two fully armed military helicopters could be seen flying overhead, making everyone look up for a second.
"That's none of your concern. Turn around right now," the soldier said, his tone colder and more threatening, even gripping the shotgun with both hands, like he would open fire the moment he heard any refusal.
"Okay, of course. I'll just turn around," Sally said immediately, raising both hands. The soldier stared at her, waiting for her to leave, but for a moment his gaze shifted to the passenger seat next to her and he frowned, confused.
Wasn't there a boy sitting there?
He thought.
But by the time he realized someone was missing, it was already too late.
Percy was standing right behind him.
And he struck the back of his neck with a sharp blow that sounded like he'd been hit with a brick.
At once, the soldiers around noticed and raised their weapons, aiming at Percy.
But after knocking out the first soldier, Percy was already moving.
And he moved with an inhuman speed the trained soldiers could barely follow, like a blur.
The closest one who managed to lift his rifle, Percy knocked the weapon aside with one hand and drove an elbow into his chin, knocking him out instantly, sending him down like a ragdoll.
And still holding the rifle in his hands, he spun and struck the next one with it like a bat, straight to the head, the metal even bending from the force of the hit.
Then Percy dropped his body low, moving ahead of the next one, who only managed to pull the trigger. But instantly, a strike to his wrist from below sounded like his bones had been shattered by the impact. He didn't even have time to scream, because then he felt a punch to the stomach and a hook in the same instant that sent him flying backward.
Percy caught the weapon midair and threw it straight at the last soldier's forehead, just before the previous one hit the ground.
Percy stood straight, looking around at the unconscious soldiers with a slightly serious expression.
"Sorry, but we can't waste time. Our friend is in danger," he said, while his companions and his mother were still in the car, with shocked expressions. Especially Sally, because she had never seen him fight like that.
But Percy ignored their looks for a moment, as he turned his gaze toward the town ahead, noticing that the movement inside was likely caused by the soldiers and those helicopters.
Right then, the radio of one of the soldiers lying on the ground crackled to life.
"This is Squad 2. Sir, I think we found them. We're following them carefully," a voice said on the other side, almost whispering. "They're heading toward…" before continuing, it suddenly went silent, as if something had startled him. "…What is that? Is that a… spiri… no, no, no— aaah!"
"Move, now. Catch them," another, more urgent voice came through the radio, probably the leader.
"Yes, sir," came the reply, while suddenly the noise from the town seemed to rise, with military vehicles, and even the two helicopters turned and started heading in one direction.
"Percy," Annabeth shouted, understanding that they were probably looking for Clarisse and the other two demigods she had found. Right now, they were being chased by all those soldiers.
Percy understood it too and decided to buy them time, so he took a deep breath.
"I always wanted to use this…," he said for a moment.
"VEN MUL RIIK."
The shout sounded like thunder.
For an instant, it made his companions cover their ears, confused. Until suddenly, surrounding the town like a tsunami, an enormous wave of fog, so dense it almost looked solid, rolled over the town and swallowed it in an instant.
Blocking the view to the point where you could barely see a meter ahead.
Even the light seemed to vanish.
Making Thalia, for a moment, look at Percy in surprise at that strange power.
But she quickly shook her head and her expression turned serious.
"Good. This should buy them a bit more time to hide. Right now, our priority is finding the demigods and getting them under protection. We don't know what we're dealing with. We only know there are many armed men, so we have to move carefully. It's best if we split into two groups, three at most. But we're not engaging in combat. We'll signal the others right away and wait. Unless—"
"Percy already left," Grover said, cutting in slightly as he raised his hand.
"What?" Thalia said, looking at where Percy had been standing.
But he wasn't there anymore.
"Is he always like this?" she asked, frowning as she looked toward Annabeth.
Who nodded without hesitation.
Grover did the same after only a second of thought.
Even Sally couldn't help but nod.
…
Percy was now standing in front of Nico.
His gaze, for a moment, dropped to the book that had fallen from his hands, making him narrow his eyes, since he recognized perfectly the symbol on its cover.
But his gaze quickly shifted to Bianca, who seemed unconscious, and to the wounded Clarisse.
Then back to Mr. Thorn, staring straight at him.
"And what are you supposed to be? Some kind of werewolf with a missile launcher stuck to your ass?" Percy said as he looked at him, studying him.
"Son of Poseidon…" Mr. Thorn said, a faint, violent smile forming on his lips. "You don't even understand what I am, do you?" he added, glaring at him.
Suddenly, behind Mr. Thorn, the massive tail moved at an absurd speed.
And a projectile shot toward Percy at a terrifying pace.
Percy didn't even blink.
He simply raised one of his swords.
The sound of metal clashing rang out for a brief instant, sparks flying.
And the spike spun in front of him before dropping at his feet.
"No. No idea. Are you famous?" Percy said, with a faint smirk.
"Grrr…" Mr. Thorn let out, a low, irritated growl. "I want to kill you so badly right now… but the general needs you alive. And you'll be of great service tonight. He's looking forward to meeting you," he said, staring at him.
Percy frowned slightly.
"Looking forward?" he asked, watching him closely.
"Oh… I see," Percy said calmly, realizing what those words implied. "So it was a trap. I'd say I'm surprised… but you'll need more than an army to stop me," he added, just as calm.
"I've heard about your arrogance. But in front of what's coming, that won't be worth much. The monsters waking up now… they're the strongest. Never seen in thousands of years. And I want to see if you keep that same arrogance," Mr. Thorn said, as his scorpion tail rose over his shoulder.
"Yeah? That is… if you're still there to see it," Percy said, lowering his body slightly, ready for combat.
"Insolent brat… you'll need a lesson before being taken before the great general," Mr. Thorn added, as the sharp black stinger emerged from the tip of his tail.
Even a faint drop of venom seemed to fall from its tip.