24. Suffering

Third-person POV

'I was thinking we make some sort of defensive wall facing the battlefield,' Athena suggested 'We had a wall the last fight but we can work on strengthening this one.'

The room full of gods and head counsellors pondered over the thoughts of the wisdom goddess. Of course it was a good idea. Athena came up with it after all.

'What about we use both the Roman scutum and the Greek hoplon together?' Malcolm from the Athena cabin suggested 'We only used the Roman shields for the phalanx wall before. If we can find a way to implement both shields to form a shield wall, then...'

Everyone thought about the idea. It was a good idea but the demigods still had to find a way to make it work. If they did, then it would not be good for the enemy.

'We can make it work,' Percy said, breaking everyone from their thoughts 'We have, what, four hours until sundown?'

'Why does it matter when it turns dark?' Apollo asked frowning.

'I am awake now.' Percy said like it would clear everything up.

At everyone's confused faces, he sighed, 'Nyx is coming for me, yes? It would make sense she would be attacking now that I am awake.'

A solemn silence fell upon the room as everyone looked at the son of Poseidon in sadness and a bit of pity. Percy promptly ignored the looks he was getting. He had a plan in mind that would save countless lives and he would follow through with it no matter what.

'Well, now is not the time to sit around,' Percy said trying to sound upbeat 'We need to find out how to make this shield thing work.'

The room's occupants mumbled their apologies and started getting out of their seats before making their way out of the conference room. Percy stayed seated in his chair as his friends and family filed out of the room. He sat there lost in his own thoughts as the room slowly became empty. Nobody even batted an eye towards Percy. Everybody had already left him behind. Everybody but one person.

'Hey man,' a voice said, making Percy nearly fall out of his chair 'You okay?'

Percy turned to his right to see a pair of dark brown eyes boring into him. He leaned backwards and smiled slightly when he recognised the face of Nico di Angelo looking at him with concern.

'Yeah, yeah,' Percy said as he rubbed his eyes and sat up straighter 'Never better.'

Nico continued staring at Percy for a few seconds before he decided to speak, 'You lie worse than Will.'

Percy gasped at his cousin dramatically but Nico continued, 'Tell me. I want to know what's on your mind.'

'Don't worry about it, Nico,' Percy said as he stood up 'I'm fine, I swear.'

'No, you're not,' Nico said as he moved to stand right in front of Percy 'For gods sake, just let someone help you for once.'

Percy looked into Nico's frustrated eyes. Nico really wanted to know what was bothering his cousin so much. Percy had helped him so much, maybe even too much, when they were younger. Nico just really wanted to return the favour. It was the least he could do.

'Look, Nico,' Percy sighed 'I'm fine. It's just the war, I swear. I'm just tired, that's all.'

Percy decided to tell his cousin only half the truth. He didn't want to burden him with this war in progress as well.

Nico narrowed his eyes at Percy but relented and sighed, 'Okay, Perce. I believe you.'

'Thanks, Neeks.' Percy said cheekily.

Nico scowled, 'Call me that again and I'll make sure you never speak again.'

The smile instantly fell from Percy's face, 'Okay, man. Jeez. So uptight.'

Nico continued glaring at a slightly frightened Percy until he suddenly burst out laughing, 'Your face! Oh my gods, best thing I have ever seen!'

'Not funny, Nico,' Percy said pouting 'Not funny at all.'

'It was funny. I've never seen you so scared before!' Nico laughed. After he calmed down enough, he made his way to the door 'Come on. We need to work on that shield wall.'

'Yeah. Yeah, okay.' Percy said as he shook his head and followed his cousin out the door.

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Percy stood on Half-Blood Hill, waiting in trepidation for what was about to come. He looked over his shoulder to see all of his friends standing in tight lines, the rectangular Roman shields interlocking with the more circular Greek ones. They were ready to march forwards at a moments notice and they were as prepared as they can be.

The demigods had managed to make the shield idea work. The scutum was a lot bigger than the Greek hoplon so they used that to their advantage. The Greek shield wielders were standing a bit ahead of the Romans. The shield wall had an alternating pattern: a hoplon after a scutum, and so on. Not only were the Roman shields bigger, they were also slightly curved so the demigods used this to support the rounder, flatter shields the Greek used by bracing them behind the edge of the two shields next to them.

Whenever anything would try and breach the shield wall, it would most likely hit the hoplons first, and that would allow the Romans to give their Greek sibling support. In a single phalanx line, it was every man for himself, where each shield would only be supported by one person. In this new and improved shield wall, everyone had the support they needed to stop any advancing enemy.

Percy turned his head to look at the setting sun. As soon as the sun touched the horizon, it turned the sky into a beautiful orange and pink canvas. It somehow eased the nerves of the demigods but they knew it was going to come back when the sun fully sets. The Olympians weren't that much better. They were just as nervous as their children but were just better at hiding it. Who wouldn't be nervous when they were facing the primordial of the Night, that too for the second time?

Everyone turned towards the previous battlefield and waited anxiously for Nyx to appear with her army. The demigods and Olympians had positioned themselves in front of the place where the enemy army appeared before so it gave them a slight advantage. It wasn't much but it was something.

Watching the sun set was torturous. It seemed so slow and that only added to the demigods' nerves. Everyone shifted nervously and fingered their weapons, waiting for the moment when Nyx was going to show up. It felt like a million years but the sun finally set below the horizon, enveloping the area in darkness.

The Olympian army grew silent. The Celestial Bronze weapons gave a soft glow that illuminated the campers' nervousness. The Olympians stationed themselves everywhere, placing themselves where they were needed the most. The Big Three along with Ares and Athena had joined their children in the front ranks while the rest of the Olympian council provided cover fire, literally in Hephaestus' case.

The whole area was silent for a few minutes and there was no sign of Nyx or her army. Everyone suddenly felt relieved, thinking Nyx wasn't attacking tonight and that they had another day before a second attack. Just when they were about to break their formation, a cold feeling crept up everyone's spine. The area in front of them suddenly grew darker, like squid ink in a clear night sky. Even though it was nighttime, the large black area in front of the demigods was highly visible.

The shadow disappeared as suddenly as it arrived. What was left behind gave everybody doubts.

In the previous battle, Nyx had recruited a whole lot of rather ordinary monsters. Hellhounds and dracaena and Laistrygonian giants. There were the same monsters opposite the campers now but they were acting completely different.

The only hellhounds Percy could see were the ones at least twice the size of Mrs O'Leary, but that was not the most disturbing part. On their backs rode a variety of Laistrygonians and dracaena alike. There were large saddlebags filled to the brim with either Celestial Bronze cannonballs or unusually large spears. Heavily tattooed Laistrygonians were the ones mainly riding the monstrous hellhounds.

There were just as many monsters as there were last time but they were a lot bigger and by the looks of things, more skilled. That was what worried the demigods and gods alike.

Nyx stood in the middle of it all looking like she owned the place. The smug look on her face matched the faces of every single monster in her army. Her horses throwing insults into the air like there was no tomorrow.

'How wonderful for you all to be here today,' Nyx said smiling maniacally 'I find your pathetic attempts surprisingly impressive.'

Percy glared at the primordial but to no effect. Nyx's smile just grew.

'Is this what you want, Perseus Jackson?' Nyx mocked 'For all your friends to die? All because of you?'

It was the campers' and the gods' turn to glare at her. They ignored what she said. They would protect Percy, even if it meant they have to give their lives. Percy, however, was feeling immense guilt at Nyx's words. Thirty-one good people had already died because of him. He didn't have any intention of letting more die for his actions.

"Go back to Tartarus, Nyx,' Percy said with confidence that surprised even himself 'So we don't have to send you there ourselves.'

'A brave attempt, Perseus Jackson,' Nyx laughed 'But I am afraid it is not enough.'

She raised her hand and pointed towards her target, 'Attack.'

One word was all it took for all Hades to break loose. The monsters roared and charged the demigods, running past the boundaries of Camp Half-Blood. The shield wall braced themselves for the incoming attack but to their surprise, it never came. Instead of getting hit from the front like they thought they would, the front line of the shield wall was met by the sounds of screaming behind them.

It turns out, everyone had forgotten a small fact. It had never crossed their minds that hellhounds had the ability to shadow travel, and the enemy used that to their advantage. The hellhounds teleported themselves and their riders behind the demigod lines and surprised them from the back. The giant dogs had instantly started going on a rampage, stomping on whatever was in their way and snapping their jaws at anything that moved.

The gods only had time to erect protective bubbles around their children that were unfortunate enough to find themselves on the receiving end of a bunch of angry and giant hellhounds. Being immortal and rather old, they had a higher reaction time compared to their children and their enhanced senses were the only thing stopping a large number of demigods to be killed.

The archers further behind immediately started releasing their arrows at the sudden appearance of the monsters. Apollo and Artemis were helping hold the protective bubble around a few campers until the massive hellhounds were either killed or subdued. The archers and the Hunters fired hundreds of arrows in a matter of seconds but it hardly bothered the large beasts. The silver and golden arrows stuck on their skin like porcupine quills.

Annoyed and slightly scared that they couldn't even slow down the hellhounds, the archers changed their tactic and aimed to kill the riders instead. The Laistrygonians and dracaena took a lot fewer arrows to kill than the hellhounds and by removing the lesser monsters, it stopped the constant raining artillery fire of spears and exploding cannonballs from above.

Percy's eyes widened as soon as the hellhounds had disappeared into shadows. He cursed himself for not remembering hellhounds could shadow travel as screams and shouts of panic erupted behind him. Without hesitation, Percy water travelled himself to the back lines where the hellhounds had disappeared to.

He reappeared a few feet in the air above a hellhound that was gnawing on a golden protective bubble surrounding a dozen campers. Percy reached for his sword handle and unsheathed it in midair. Before he could land on the back of the hellhound, Percy turned his sword so the point was facing downwards and landed right on top of a Laistrygonian, his black sword buried hilt-deep in the giant's skull.

As the Laistrygonian disintegrated, Percy held onto the saddle as the hellhound thrashed around, trying to get to its next meal behind an indestructible bubble. He looked around frantically, trying to find a way to kill one of the biggest hellhound he had ever seen but he was too busy trying to hold on to think clearly. Just as his grip was about to loosen, a loud boom shook the beast he was riding on, stopping its shaking and effectively, giving Percy a chance to get a better grip.

A series of explosions sounded off to his left and right as small green mushroom clouds lit up the area, making the situation even more unnerving with the eerie green glow.

As one, all the hellhounds turned menacingly to face the archers who had fired Greek fire arrows at them, hoping to get their attention. Unfortunately for them, it worked. The bow-wielding demigods gulped when all the hellhounds started making a low growling sound and tensed, ready to pounce at any second.

Thinking fast, Percy clambered onto the head of his hellhound, his presence still unnoticed by the beast, and reached into his pocket. With one hand holding onto a handful of fur and one hand gripping his pen, he flicked the cap off expertly and thrust the fully extended sword into the glowing red eye of the hellhound.

With a pained howl, the hellhound jerked towards its right, running straight into its buddy and effectively causing a huge and a lot more terrifying version of dominoes. Percy clung onto the hellhound's fur desperately as it toppled onto its side like all the others next to him.

Having no need to hold a protective bubble anymore, Apollo gathered his breath as he summoned his golden bow. He took a deep breath as he tilted his bow horizontally and pulled the bowstring back, picturing half a dozen high-powered arrows notched on the bow.

The golden arrows flickered into existence, glowing and pulsing with power. Using less than a second to aim, Apollo released the arrows and watched as they sailed to their target, leaving golden trails in their wake.

As soon as all six arrows hit their targets the hellhounds burst into giant clouds of golden dust. Without even patting himself on the back, Apollo pulled his bowstring back and repeated the process.

The demigod archers couldn't even do anything. Their arrows were useless against the hellhounds. Instead, they could only watch in awe at their father as he fired arrows six at a time at speeds that shouldn't even be possible. Apollo was firing his super-powered arrows so fast, it looked like he was firing a six-barrelled laser gun. A few seconds later, Apollo was soon joined by his sister and in no time at all, the sneaky shadow travelling hellhounds were reduced to piles of monster dust, their essence already making their way into Tartarus.

'Are you okay?' Apollo asked as he rushed to where Percy had fallen when the hellhound he was on dissolved.

'Yeah, I'm fine.' Percy said as he stood up and scooped up his sword 'Come on, there's still some hellhounds up front.'

Without another word, Percy water travelled himself to where he was before the whole thing went down. As soon as he materialised, he looked up to see three mega hellhounds barrelling towards him.

Percy's eyes widened and he was about to water travel away again but he felt the temperature increase dramatically. Instinctively, Percy rolled to the side and summoned water from the air before encasing himself in it. A split second after Percy's water bubble was formed, a wave of fire appeared from above him and scorched the hellhounds into oblivion.

When Percy felt the fire die down, he removed his water bubble. Thankfully, he was fine but his clothes were smoking and his sweatshirt had holes in it. He gingerly took off his sweatshirt and threw it onto the ground before turning to the source of the fire.

Percy came face-to-face with three dragons. He could see Peleus and a dragon that looked suspiciously like Frank in his dragon form. In between the two was a giant metal dragon with a surprised Leo sitting atop him.

'Sorry!' Leo screamed down to his friend. He hadn't seen Percy when they decided to burn away the hellhounds.

'I'm fine!' Percy screamed back as he made his way on Festus behind Leo 'Fly up!'

Nodding, Leo commanded Festus to take off into the air as Percy sheathed his sword and twisted the ring on his finger. The bow shimmered into existence and Percy started unleashing utter destruction upon the enemy army.

Leo was whopping and throwing fireballs as Percy shot arrow after arrow at any target he could find. He couldn't really kill any of the hellhounds since they were too big but he did a good job blinding them. As Festus swopped through the air, arrows flew from his back like a machine gun. Anyone facing a hellhound would suddenly be met with the sight of the beast howling in pain and three or four arrows stuck in each eye.

Percy continued firing arrows but his eyes were focused on only one thing. Nyx was standing in her chariot where she was last time, looking over the battlefield with an unnerving smile. Percy hesitated but he knew she was waiting for something.

Percy was trying to figure out how to make Leo bring him to Nyx when Festus jerked violently to the left. Percy heard Leo cursing as he tried to right the bronze dragon but when Percy's eye caught a Laistrygonian giant aiming another Celestial Bronze cannonball, he knew it was no use.

The flaming cannonball hit Festus' other wing and he started spiralling out of control. Percy grabbed onto Leo's shoulder from behind and water travelled themselves to safety just as Festus was nearing the ground.

'What was that?' Leo asked incredulously as he held his stomach 'That felt terrible.'

'Water travel.' Percy said offhandedly as he looked towards Nyx. Her solid white eyes staring straight at the demigod as if she was daring him to do something.

'Whatever you're thinking, don't do it.' Leo said to Percy as he took out a hammer from his tool belt.

Percy looked towards his friend apologetically. Leo had changed so much since he had last seen him. He was so much more mature now.

'I can't Leo,' Percy said as he took a step back 'I'm sorry.'

'Percy, don't-' Leo started but Percy was already gone.

Percy teleported himself to where Nyx was standing in her chariot. He returned his bow into its ring form and stepped forward to talk to the ten-feet-tall primordial.

'Nyx, stop this,' Percy pleaded 'It's me you want, not them. Let them leave unharmed and I will surrender myself to you.'

Nyx looked down at the demigod in amusement, 'Oh, how selfless. Perhaps I will take you up on your offer.'

Nyx raised her hand and tendrils made out of shadows erupted from the ground all around Percy. They wrapped around Percy so tight, he fell onto his knees, grimacing in pain.

'Percy!' he could hear his father shouting his name repeatedly. Percy looked over to his father and saw him trying to make his way towards Percy, but the number of hellhounds between them was simply too much. With a sad smile, he nodded at Poseidon, telling him it was okay.

'You think I am a fool, Perseus Jackson?' Nyx whispered into his ear 'I said you would suffer. I didn't say how you would suffer.'

Percy turned back to face Nyx and saw a sly smile on her face, 'What do you mean?'

'I have to say, you are one really important demigod,' Nyx stated casually as screams and shouts rang around them 'It took me years to find out all I need to find out about you, Perseus Jackson. But now I know your fatal flaw, I know exactly what I need to do.'

Percy paled considerably when he caught on to Nyx's words, 'Don't do this, Nyx. I beg you. This is between you and me.'

Nyx laughed, sending shivers down Percy's back, 'This is between you and me, you pathetic demigod. You will watch as I kill everyone you love and care about. Right in front of you.'

Nyx turned to the left and when Percy followed her gaze, he paled even more if it was possible.

Nyx turned back towards the son of Poseidon with a maniacal gleam in her eyes as she stepped out of her chariot.

'Now, why don't we begin,' Nyx said as she grabbed Percy's face roughly 'How about we start with Mr. di Angelo?'

A/N: Hello there.

I need to say...thanks for over 2000 view! I honestly never thought I would make it this far. Thanks for everyone reading and supporting this fanfic!

Nyx just showed her true intentions. What's going to happen next? Find out next chapter.

~Sacai2005