The next day came quicker than expected- it was time for Capture the Flag.
I looked around at all of the Campers preparing for the game. Everyone looked incredibly determined for the game, especially the Aphrodite children.
Silena Beauregard in particular was sharpening a dagger while murmuring about how she'd make them pay for daring to say that 'love' was worthless.
"Right," Thalia spoke, her spear and shield already prepared. Her electric blue eyes were hard as she looked over everyone. "Let's go over the plan. Defending the flag will be Yuno and Uta," she gestured towards us.
My scythe was resting on my shoulder as I gave everyone a nod, while Uta was doing the straps on her armour, and stringing up her bow to make sure it could handle her strength.
"I trust them both to be able to handle it," she explained to everyone, and she received no arguments. "Next, we're going to split into three teams. The first team will be led by myself. We'll be attacking from the front. Meanwhile, Penny will be leading the second team around the back for a pincer manoeuvre. Everyone in Penny's team, make sure you bring bottles of water with you for Penny to both be able to control, and also use to empower herself as needed at key moments."
Everyone nodded in agreement with Thalia's orders, while Penny had a slight look of surprise on her face... She'd never once thought about bringing water along into battle with her to get a quick boost as she needed it. But, in hindsight, that would have made some fights a lot easier in the past.
"Don't worry about anything except taking out the hunters," she told them. "Forget about things like honour and pride. We will win this fight no matter what. We'll show those girl scouts what it means to face us!"
Everyone lifted their weapons, letting out a cheer at Thalia's words before Penny and Thalia began to more thoroughly separate themselves into two teams.
Uta and I finished preparing ourselves for the fight. Uta fired a practice arrow and nodded in satisfaction. She cleared her throat, doing a few voice training exercises to make sure that she'd be able to use her Devil Fruit properly.
Thalia made her way over to us, clapping me on the shoulder. "I'm counting on you and Uta," she told me. "Don't let them even get a finger on the flag."
"Don't worry, they won't," I promised.
She gave a nod and looked at us both with a soft expression. "Be safe, okay?"
"Always," Uta smiled and nodded. "We'll show them what for."
Thalia nodded and gaze lingered on me for a moment before she turned away and made her way back over to her group.
I looked over at Uta with a small smile. "Still nervous?" I asked her.
She gave a nod. "Yes," she admitted. "But, right now, I feel really calm. This is the pre-show; the performance has yet to truly begin. If we falter here, how can we ever hope for an encore?"
I chuckled at her usage of stage terms... But she wasn't wrong. If we failed at the first step, then saving Artemis would be nearly impossible. We had to clear this and make it onto the quest.
Finally, the horn was blown, echoing through the still air of the night. The game had begun.
Uta and I took our places as the guardians of the flag. It was orange, with the symbol of a Pegasus with a lightning bolt behind it- the symbol of Camp Half-Blood. Uta held her bow and arrow at the ready for any attacks, keeping her eyes peeled.
I'd be the first to admit, having Capture the Flag after dinner was a dick move. This was clearly yet another advantage the Hunters got whenever they came to visit. Not only were they under the light of the moon- no doubt meaning Artemis's blessing was stronger- but they were used to hunting at night so they were able to more clearly see in the dark than we could.
Really, battling the Hunters was just entirely unfair for the Campers and the Gods probably knew it. They just probably thought it kept everyone humble, or maybe they just got a laugh out of watching Artemis's handmaidens stomp their children.
I hummed softly as I kept my guard up... While it hadn't been mentioned when I'd obtained my skills, being the son of the Lord of Night also meant I could see clearly in the dark- as good as if it were day. It was a passive Demigod benefit as opposed to an actual skill, thanks to my bloodline.
On top of that, I also had Tez, Pandora, and Maelstrom all keeping a lookout... If any of the Hunters appeared, they wouldn't be missed by us. We'd make sure to catch them.
There was silence for quite a while... Before Pandora spoke. "They're here."
"Uta, Conqueror's Haki," I told her.
The aspiring Idol didn't hesitate nor question my orders. Instead, her eyes hardened, and an aura spread out from her body- sending chills down my spine in the process.
Suddenly, several thumps were heard along with exclamations of surprise and shock.
"Duck," Tez said in a lazy voice.
I quickly dropped my head down, right as a blunted arrow passed by where my head used to be... These girls were brutal, huh?
"What did thou do, male?" A voice growled as a girl- Zoe- stepped out of the shadows, her arrow trained on me.
"You should be asking Uta about that, I just gave the order," I told her. "This is our first time meeting, isn't it? A pleasure, Miss Nightshade. My name is Yuno Fuji, an unclaimed Demigod."
"Is it? I do not care," she retorted coldly.
"Your friends are fine," Uta replied. "Just unconscious."
"Uta, Sing," I said when I noticed Zoe was opening her mouth again.
Uta didn't hesitate as she activated the power of her Devil Fruit, her song radiating through the area. Some of the hunters slowly began to lower their arms, seemingly entranced in the song.
Zoe's arms strained and she fired an arrow at Uta, who dodged. "Siren's song...!" She hissed. "Then I shall deal with thee first!" She let loose another arrow, but this time I cut the arrow midair with my scythe.
"No, you won't," I told her. "Uta, keep singing. Shoot anyone who seems like they're going to break out. Infuse into the song if you have to."
I charged right at Zoe, who dropped her bow in favour of her hunting knives.
Our weapons collided- her hunting knives against the shaft of my scythe- the two of us pushing against one another. I managed to get a leg under hers and swept her feet out from under her.
Zoe rolled along the grass and got up, turning just in time to dodge my swing. My scythe bit into the bark of the tree, sending splinters of wood flying everywhere.
She charged at me and tried to cut at me with her hunting knives, but I parried her strikes. My goal wasn't to defeat her, it was to stall her. Stall her until we heard the horn blow again, signalling our victory.
"Cannot even fight with a proper blade," Zoe hissed in disdain as we locked blades again. "Only a male would use such an uncivilised weapon..."
"And what makes a weapon uncivilised?" I retorted. "In the end, they're all used for the same purpose- to kill. So, why nitpick on how the job is done?"
"And that is why thou art a filthy male," she snapped as she spun around and gave me a firm kick on my stomach, making me stumble and fall back.
She pounced on me, but I rolled to the side as her daggers sank into the ground where my shoulders had been moments before.
"As expected from the fabled Lieutenant of the Moon Goddess," I murmured.
"Flattery will not save thee, male," Zoe readied herself, eyes narrowing. "Defeating thee is not a matter of 'if,' but a matter of 'when.'"
"Is that what you think?"
'Maelstrom.'
Maelstrom's spirit suddenly surged towards me and slammed into my body, making me jerk slightly.
This was another use of Duel Monsters... The most ancient and archaic way of using their powers- by taking the spirits into the body and wielding their powers with a mortal form. Normally, I would never dare do this since a human body wouldn't last very long.
However, I wasn't human at the moment. I was also Half God.
Maelstrom's power surged through my veins, and I grinned as I felt the power of the seas surge through my body. Water was drawn out of the air and swirled around me.
Zoe's eyes widened and she took a step back in shock, now even more on guard. "The Water... Impossible, did Lord Poseidon break the oath again?"
"I have no relation to Poseidon," I told her simply, pulling back my scythe. "A word of advice for you?"
Her eyes narrowed.
"Duck."
I swung.
Zoe didn't hesitate to dive to the ground as water blade cut through the air, topping several trees behind her.
Luckily, those trees didn't have any nymphs- or I would be so screwed.
Zoe got up and grabbed her bow, aiming an arrow at me with a furious look on her face.
Waaaaa-oooooooooo!
Uta's singing abruptly stopped, and Zoe lowered her bow slowly with a look of utter shock on her face.
Maelstrom left my body, leaving me breathless, but I grinned happily... I knew what that sound represented, and Uta and I didn't hesitate to rush away from the flag and towards the stream as the sound of the War Horn- signalling the end of the game- echoed through the area.
There, Thalia proudly hoisted the Hunter's Flag- now in the colours of Camp Half-Blood- into the air, signalling the Hunter's first defeat in over fifty battles.
"The campers win!" Chiron declared with joy. "For the first time after fifty-five games!"
Damn, fifty-five straight losses? That was brutal buddy…
Thalia handed the flag off to Penny, who blinked in surprise but hoisted it up again as everyone kept cheering. She was able to slip out of the crowd and made her way over to Uta and I.
"We won!" She laughed and slapped my shoulder. "You both did a great job defending the flag! Without Zoe there, it was easier than I thought it would be- they weren't prepared for us to attack from both sides!"
"Everyone worked together to win, Uta and I just played our part," I told her.
"It was fun though," she smiled. "I was surprised that some of the Hunters were able to resist my Haki, but I guess that just means I need more training after all. I'm looking forward to it later on."
Thalia just grinned. "Sure, we can train all you want," she promised Uta. "But after we celebrate! I'm so happy that we finally..." Thalia's smile faded and she froze up in shock.
I followed her gaze and whirled around... Even though I had been expecting it, it was still a horrifying sight to see firsthand.
Zoe and a few hunters stumbled out to the stream, and also found themselves staring at the rather disturbing sight before everyone...
The Oracle of Delphi- mummified and wearing a sundress- was walking. It had left the attic, and was wandering around, as if looking for someone.
"I- Impossible," Chiron was shocked. "She... It has never left the attic before..."
The Oracle's eyes turned to Zoe, lingering on her.
I felt my stomach drop... Was she really about to receive the Prophecy, even after all the work we'd put in?
Zoe swallowed and took a step forward... Only to stare in shock as the Oracle turned away from her, and instead walked towards Uta, Thalia and me.
It stopped not far from us, its eyes locking onto Thalia. Green smoke poured out of its mouth, surrounding its body. As it spoke, it sounded like hundreds of snakes hissing directly into the mind.
I am the Spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach, seeker, and ask.
Thalia looked at both Uta and I, both of us giving her a reassuring nod. She took a deep breath and stepped forward. "What must I do?"
The green smoke gathered and consolidated, showing the image of Artemis- her clothes dirty along with her body, with chains binding her. It looked as though she were struggling to hold up something- the very sky itself. Her eyes were green as she stared straight at Thalia- and spoke.
To the goddess in chains, six shall go west
Following the Moon's footsteps is the trial to best
Campers and hunters, as one they shall shine
The Bane of Olympus, power declined
In the land without rain, stare down a bronze giant
Titan's curse endured, the Moon defiant
Trickery abound and power untold
War on the horizon, victory earned bold
And then, the green smoke faded away. The oracle fell silent and lay down, as if she may sleep in the creak for another thousand years.
I swallowed slowly... In the enduring silence, it sounded loud.
Okay... That's different...
[The World Mission Objective has been updated.]
[Save Artemis before the Solstice.]