Percy Jackson - Beyond the Gods

The night sky was clear, with stars shining brightly over Camp Half-Blood, casting a soft glow on the field. In the dining pavilion, the usual arrangement of tables had been temporarily replaced by a carefully organized collection of weapons. Swords, spears, and shields gleamed under the torchlight, while an assortment of armor was arranged along the walls, ready to be chosen by the campers.

The atmosphere was charged with a vibrant, tense energy, with whispers and nervous laughter filling the air. Campers moved from table to table, examining the weapons, assessing their options for the upcoming Capture the Flag battle against the Hunters of Artemis.

The firelight cast dancing shadows on the weapons, creating an almost magical atmosphere in the dining pavilion. In one corner, Percy chatted with some campers from the Hermes cabin along with Annabeth, Bianca, and Nico.

Ikki stood calmly, his sapphire eyes holding an icy layer. He was silent as he looked at all the campers around him.

They would fight the Hunters, but it would be a small game: only thirteen Hunters and approximately the same number of campers.

He wasn't worried about fighting Artemis' subordinates. He knew he could easily defeat all thirteen of them. Besides, he had help from Thalia, Percy, Annabeth, and ten other demigods.

Zoë looked visibly frustrated. Her eyes darted disdainful glances at Chiron, as if she couldn't believe he was forcing her to participate in this game.

The other Hunters also seemed disheartened; instead of laughter and banter, a tense atmosphere hung in the air. They gathered in the dining pavilion, exchanging nervous whispers as they donned their armor.

He noticed that some of them had been crying, probably due to the nightmares Zoë had shared.

On the campers' side, they had Beckendorf and two other sons of Hephaestus, some from the Ares cabin—although it was strange that Clarisse wasn't present—the Stoll brothers, Nico and Bianca from the Hermes cabin, and some of Aphrodite's daughters. It was unusual to see the Aphrodite cabin involved in a combat game; normally, they preferred to stay apart, admiring their reflections in the river. However, upon learning they would be facing the Hunters, excitement took hold of them.

Ignoring as much as she could the son of Zeus standing nearby, Silena Beauregard grumbled as she adjusted the straps of her armor, her face determined. "I'll show them that 'love is useless.' I'll pulverize them!"

Beside her, Thalia and Percy watched, preparing for the imminent battle. The atmosphere was tense, and every decision would be crucial against the Hunters of Artemis.

"I'll take the offense," Thalia volunteered, her confidence unwavering. She held Aegis firmly, the shield with Medusa's head engraved on it, emitting a menacing aura that made even her companions not want to get too close.

Percy hesitated, scratching his head. "Uh." He was about to suggest the opposite. "Don't you think, with your shield and all, you'd be better on defense?"

Thalia raised an eyebrow, already ready for battle. "I was thinking it would be better on offense," she replied. "Besides, you've trained more on defense."

Percy recalled his previous experiences defending in Capture the Flag, some disastrous, especially in his first year when Annabeth put him on defense, but he kept his face serene. "Yeah, no problem," he lied, trying to appear confident.

While the two discussed this and prepared for battle, the rest of the ready campers positioned themselves in their respective places, the tension growing with each second.

Ikki took a deep breath and stepped forward, catching the attention of all the campers. His presence commanded respect naturally; he would do as Chiron asked and lead the team to victory, but in his own way this time. He wanted to change; he didn't want to let others take command and then have to take responsibility for the consequences of their decisions later.

He wanted to be proactive, screw everything else!

He would no longer have the flaw of inaction!

"Everyone, listen!" Ikki raised his voice, his confidence flowing almost tangibly. "I'm going on the offensive. The rest of you, focus on defense. Protect our flag. If anyone wants to dispute this, now is the time."

The campers were silent for a moment, but soon began to murmur. They knew Ikki's skill; they knew he was stronger than any of them, but placing the entire responsibility of the attack in his hands left them ashamed; many of them wanted to prove their worth in this battle. However, the strength of his gaze and the authority in his voice left no room for discussion. Ikki was the strongest demigod in Camp Half-Blood history, and that was enough for them to place complete trust in his decision.

Thalia, standing next to Percy, watched the scene with narrowed eyes. She knew what was happening. Ikki, once again, was taking the lead without hesitation. He was taking command naturally, as he always did, and it bothered her deeply. She should be leading the team; she should have been the first to give direction, the first to take the reins of the offensive, but Ikki had not only decided to take the lead, but he had also made it clear that he would do whatever it took to ensure victory.

Annabeth stood in the corner of the dining pavilion next to Bianca, her eyes fixed on Ikki. While others saw only the strong and decisive leader, she saw more than that. Her mind was still stuck on a recent discovery, something that had caught her by surprise and still reverberated within her, like a dissonant note in a melody she could no longer ignore.

Ikki liked Artemis.

Annabeth felt a tightness in her chest. He was everything she could never be. And, at the same time, he was everything she most desired.

But she couldn't allow herself to be consumed by these feelings. She couldn't. Not when she knew he was drawn to something beyond her reach. She felt a pang of frustration mixed with admiration. She knew she couldn't compete with what Ikki felt for Artemis. She knew that, deep down, she would never be the only one in his life. And yet, there was something inside her that refused to give up trying. Something that made her want to be by his side, not just as an ally, but as someone who could also win a piece of his attention, his respect.

She was pulled from her thoughts when the daughter of Zeus stepped forward.

"I'll take defense then..." Thalia said, trying to hide the frustration in her voice. She wanted to take the offense, but she knew that Ikki's choice was undoubtedly the most sensible.

Even so, the feeling of being left behind and having her leadership challenged still bothered her.

She didn't want it to be this way, but she couldn't deny that her place in command was being overshadowed by someone stronger, more decisive, more natural.

Percy, beside her, seemed a little more disconcerted, as he wanted to fight alongside his best friend after training hard for the past few years for this, but he knew what the son of Zeus was like; instead of challenging the leader's decision, he should simply trust.

"Come on, Thalia. He knows what he's doing," he said, as if trying to ease the tension.

Thalia didn't answer immediately. She was watching Ikki, who was already beginning to prepare for the mission with impressive precision. He wasn't carrying any weapons or any kind of protection, but anyone could feel their body trembling slightly when looking in his direction, as if they were in front of an ancient monster.

"Ikki, don't you think someone should accompany you on the attack?" Annabeth asked, with a certain distance in her voice, as if she had forced herself to ask this question.

Ikki turned to her, his gaze reflecting his usual confidence and calm. "No, Anne. You stay on defense. It's not your responsibility to come with me. I'm the best suited for this. Now, trust me and do your part."

His tone was direct, leaving no room for doubt, no hesitation. He was taking the reins of the situation with an ease that seemed to remove any responsibility from his companions.

The campers around them began to organize themselves without question. Everyone knew what to do. Ikki had given the orders, and his words were crystal clear. There was no room for doubt. There was nothing to dispute. He would go on the attack alone, while the rest of the team would handle the defense.

The plan was set.

As the campers finished their final preparations, Nico di Angelo ran up to Percy with a big smile on his face.

The bronze helmet with a blue plume was falling over his eyes, and his chest plate seemed almost six times larger than normal. Percy wondered if there was any way he had looked so ridiculous when he first arrived at camp. Unfortunately, there probably was.

Nico, with considerable effort, raised his sword. "Do we have to kill the other team?"

Percy looked at him, unfazed. "Well... No."

"But the Hunters are immortal, right?"

"That's only if they don't fall in battle. Besides—"

"It would be awesome if we just, like, came back to life as soon as we were killed, so we could keep fighting, and—"

"Nico, this is serious. Real swords. These can hurt," Percy said firmly, noticing the disappointed look Nico gave him in response. He couldn't help but notice that, at that moment, he sounded exactly like his mother.

"Whoa. Not a good sign," he thought, before patting Nico lightly on the shoulder, trying to ease the tension. "Hey, it's okay. Just follow the team. Stay out of Zoë's way. We'll have a lot of fun."

The sound of Chiron's hoof echoed on the pavilion floor, catching everyone's attention. "Heroes!" he announced authoritatively. "You know the rules! The creek is the boundary. Blue team—Camp Half-Blood—must take the west woods. Hunters of Artemis—red team—must take the east woods. I will be the referee and battlefield medic. No intentional maiming, please! All magical items are allowed. To your positions!"

"Cool," Nico murmured next to Percy, "What kind of magical items? Do I get one?"

Percy was about to cut off Nico's question, saying no, but before he could,

Ikki intervened.

"Blue team! Follow me!" He shouted, and the campers began to move, gathering under his leadership.

They soon took their positions.

The flag was positioned atop Zeus's Fist.

The location, a rock formation that rose imposingly in the heart of the west woods, was one of the most challenging for a Capture the Flag battlefield. From the right angle, the six-meter-high rock resembled a stone fist, challenging anyone who attempted to take the position. However, to the more distracted, the view from the opposite side of the formation gave a much less imposing impression, something sloppier, almost like a pile of deer droppings—but, as Chiron had warned countless times, the name "Poop Pile" would never be accepted.

Despite this, no one could deny that the top of Zeus's Fist was a strategic and challenging position. The rock was slippery in some parts, rough in others, but its height ensured that the flag was visible from afar, as the rules required. Indeed, anyone attempting to capture the flag would have to be agile, skilled, and above all, daring.

With a final glance at his companions, Ikki stepped forward as he began walking toward where he sensed the Hunters: "Remember, no hesitation. Let's show them who we are."

Thalia, as irritated as she was with herself, knew there was nothing more to be done. She accepted her role on defense, knowing that her mission was to protect the flag. She had confidence in her ability, but something still burned within her—the feeling that the leadership she had always held was now in the hands of someone stronger, someone more decisive.

Percy, in turn, looked at Ikki with a mix of complex emotions. But he knew that even though Ikki was going on the attack alone, he would not fail. The strongest demigod in Camp Half-Blood history never failed.

The sound of swords being drawn and the weight of armor echoed on the battlefield as everyone prepared for the confrontation. Ikki had already taken the first step towards the attack, and now it was time for everyone to do what they had promised: stay firm and focused.

And, as if it were an extension of his own will, the battlefield began to move around Ikki. He knew that as long as he was at the front, no one else needed to do anything more. He would take upon himself the responsibility of achieving victory. And nothing else mattered.

He moved quickly through the trees and arrived in a small valley near the Hunters' position. He sensed them all coming towards him.