28 Chapter 28

[Third Person's PoV]

Lucian shot his tendrils of shadow into the sky grabbing around 6 harpies from the air and willing the tendrils to slam them down on the ground.

With an unwilling screech they bounced from the ground with a large thud and quickly turned to dust causing them to later reform in Tartarus.

Lucian procceded to then summoned earth spikes from the ground and shot them in the air, taking down 8 more harpies.

Meanwhile Luke who now had a sword in his hands ran towards the massive hellhounds that were the size of a bear, one of them jumped at him ready to tear one of his limb off with its teeth but Luke simply side stepped while swinging his sword to the side decapitating it turning it into dust and ashes.

A unexpectedly a hellhound suddenly appeared behind him as it used shadow travel to appear behind him.

"Behind you Luke!" Lucian called out sensing the use of shadow travel.

Luke didn't stop to think about it before spinning on his heels and slashing the hellhound across it's chest turning it into dust as well.

Normally if one isn't from the Underworld or from something of similar nature related to it then it would have been impossible to wield a Stygian steel weapon.

But since it is blood bounded weapon and Lucian gave permission for Luke to wield it, he's able to use it but isn't able to absorb the essence of the monsters he kills into the sword.

Luke ducked his head when he saw his shadow move slightly and a hellhound suddenly appear over him as it jumped from his shadow.

Luke thrusted his sword upwards skewering the hellhound's chest, when it turned into dust, more hellhound jump from each direction surrounding him trying to maim him.

Luke tried spinning with the blade trying to get each of them but only ended up cutting and killing 3 of them before the last one swung it's claw across his back making him grunt in pain.

He didn't turn around and just thrusted his sword backwards impaling it in the head.

And while that was happening Lucian's shadows were all over the place, the 5 Laistrygonians giants alongside the Empousai where ahead taking down any hellhounds they could, but some still manage to escape them using shadow travel and go towards Luke's direction.

Meanwhile the 20 Stymphalian Birds were in the air helping Lucian take down the harpies from the sky, some used their friends as decoys infront of them and swoop down towards Lucian, managing to scratch him on his arms and legs.

And while that was going on Annabeth and Thalia were were busy fighting the fire breathing bulls.

Thalia ended up using her shield to block the bulls charge but ended up being pushed back due to it's force. And as it opened it's mouth to use it's inborn flamethrower she thrusted her electricity charged spear inside it, destroying their core. The Lamias would then wrapped their tails around Thalia and pull her away from the explosions.

Some of the Lamias would wrap them themselves around the bulls and pry their mouth open, which gave Annabeth the chance to throw her daggers inside also destroying the cores.

One of the bulls went charging around the field scorching some of the grass while also breathing fire destroying some of the Lamias shadows, it then headed straight for Thalia.

Due to it still breathing fire Thalia had to protect herself with her shield. The bull took that opportunity to ram it's head sending Thalia flying crashing into ground with a grimace.

"Thalia, Switch with me!" Lucian yelled out.

Although confused and slightly frustrated she obliged. Thalia quickly got up and they both ran towards each and swapped opponents, it was now Thalia fighting the harpies while Lucian went towards the bulls.

The harpies were less hostile and weary of Thalia due to her status as Zeus daughter and Aegis shield intimidating them.

But Thalia didn't care for their feelings at the moment, she pointed her spear into the air and released a volt of electricity in which she started using it as a whip, twirling it around vaporizing any harpies it made contact with.

As for Lucian as soon as he came close enough to the bulls he spread his arms slightly and made a grasping motion, he proceeded to then slowly bring his two fist together.

Causing two bulls that were charging at him and Annabeth to change directions and start tilting their horn towards each other.

The bulls tried to move and get away from each other and whatever was controlling them, but they just ended crashing into one another. Causing their horns to pierce the head of other, they quickly powered down causing them to crash into the ground with sparks coming off them.

Lucian smirk seeing that, he previously failed to realize that the bronze bull were made from celestial bronze, a very rare metal he has the ability to control.

When suddenly a dagger flew right pass the side of his head causing his eyes to widen, before hearing something being impaled followed by a loud screech right behind him.

He turned around and saw a harpy turn to dust, he turned back towards Annabeth, who was smirking in his direction, "Now you owe me one"

Lucian didn't say anything and just made an uppercut motion with his fist. Annabeth was at first confused before she heard sound of an impact.

She quickly turned around and looked behind her, she saw a piller coming from the ground hitting a bull that was too close for confront under it's head. Sending it flying back, making it land on its back.

Lucian then made a swiping up motion and from the center of the bulls stomach a spear made of multiple jewels and gold pierced through right underneath it destroying it's core.

Lucian returned her smirk with one of his own, "And now we're even."

Seeing that they killed all the bulls Lucian turned towards Annabeth, "Prepare to catch me"

"What?"

"Arise!" Lucian yelled, he felt his already dwindling amount of magic to suddenly plummet causing him to fall face first with sweat running down from his forehead.

Annabeth quickly caught Lucian with a panicked expression and put his arm over her shoulder lifting him up making her lean on her.

"What just happened?" Annabeth asked never seen Lucian look so exhausted before.

Lucian started chuckling, "I just decided to turn the tide of the battle in our favor"

In front of them multiple shadow soldiers started rising from the ashes they left behind and started helping the other shadow soldier bring down the remaining monsters.

Little by little Lucian's forces started overpowering their opponents. Luke and Thalia stopped what they were doing since they didn't have to fight anymore and watched in shock as Lucian's shadows completely eliminated the left over harpies and Hellhound.

Leaving the battle field with only Lucian's shadows and the ashes and dust of what remained of the monsters…