Chapter Text
The start of Annabeth’s plan was simple. Isaiah had taken the time to learn it well, which made sense given it revolved around him.
The demigods began their dash deeper into the dense woods, weaving in and out of trees while Isaiah held back, allowing himself to fall into the back of the pack.
A mechanical whirl filled the air as a fleet of small drones took to the sky, thrown into the air by one of the Hephaestus kids. Another one , a tough looking girl named Nyassa, pounded away at a remote. All at once the drones spread out into a dozen different directions, carrying out their orders to scout the area for the target monster.
“Isaiah! Now!” Annabeth shouted, and Isaiah broke off from the main group and into the dense foliage.
Run parallel to us. Annabeth had said during the briefing, Out of sight but close enough to respond once he comes.
Are you sure he’ll come? Isaiah had asked, not convinced.
I’m certain.
“The rest of you! Get ready, he’ll be here any moment!” Percy shouted.
“What if he doesn’t-” As if on cue, the camper’s question was interrupted by the gleeful laughing of the demigod in question.
“HAHA!” The voice boomed, deep and rough as a foghorn. The demigod burst out of the brush, a massive smile spread across his face. Just as tall as Isaiah and completely rippling with tight muscle, the demigod fixed his eyes on the members of the opposing cabins with a smile. Isaiah faltered for a half moment, unnerved by his gaze. A jagged bright red scar stretched across his eye and forehead, marking this man as Isaiah’s target. Sherman Yang had arrived right on time.
“You’re all here?! Good!” He laughed some more, inching forwards as he drew a wicked one handed sword from his scabbard. “Come at me all at once! Come on!”
At the time of the briefing, Isaiah had found it hard to believe the Ares’ cabin would let Sherman fight alone. But just as predicted, he appeared without any backup.
What if he has cabinmates with him? Isaiah had asked.
He won’t. Sherman is strongest when he’s fighting alone. Clarisse’s own plan is probably to have him operate alone and take out as many of us as possible. Which is why we can’t let that happen.
The other campers wasted no time, all breaking into a sprint directly towards him. Sherman brought his sword to his side, preparing a swipe that would perfectly clear a horizontal line of targets. Chiron’s warning to avoid killing other campers seemed to be lost on him.
The worst case scenario would be him wiping us all out at once.
This is going well. Isaiah thought as he ran directly towards him from his cover in the trees, using his allies as a mask. Right when he got close enough, they all suddenly turned and scattered into the woods, leaving Sherman waiting for a group attack that would never come. Instead, Isaiah struck hard and alone. Leaping from a low hanging branch, he jumped directly into his guard, clearing the swipe from his blade and landing a devastating jab into Sherman's face. He put all his strength in the punch, but to his tremendous disappointment Sherman barely budged in response to the force. The hit barely stunned the demigod.
Isaiah quickly retreated, getting some space as Sherman inspected the new bruise on his cheek.
Wait…no it's not.
Sherman brought a hand to his cheek and smiled. “Your plan is to keep me here? Isolate me from my cabin mates?” He tossed his sword into the grass and readied his own fists. “A good plan! Clarisse told me about you. Isaiah Zebo, son of Poseidon. I’ve heard this is your style?”
Sherman moved forward with speed Isaiah didn’t think was humanly possible for a person his size. He planted a mighty haymaker directly towards Isaiah’s face who barely had enough time to react and block with both forearms. The strike’s force was reminiscent of a car accident, driven by the ox behind it. The impact sent Isaiah flying backwards into a tree as he struggled to stay on his feet.
Sherman smiled at Isaiah. “Come, Son of Poseidon! I'll let you keep me here! As long as I am entertained!”
Isaiah’s arms shook from the impact as he marveled at the demigod's strength. Annabeth had explained Sherman’s combat ability, he knew exactly what he was getting into by agreeing to this task. But still…as he fixed his gaze on the bloodthirsty smile on his target he couldn’t help but be impressed.
This was Sherman Yang, the demigod who single handedly slew over 350 monsters in the legendary battle of Manhattan…after his sword was destroyed.
“Sure.” And with no further words Isaiah launched himself back into combat. He dodged and sidestepped Sherman’s first blows, blocking the few that made it past his swift movements.
His power is insane, I'll favor dodging over blocking.
Thinking it was much easier than doing though. Sherman’s blows came quickly and with little tell to indicate their imminence. Isaiah found himself relying more on instinct than actual prediction.
As the two danced around one another and peppered the other with powerful blows they both broke into smiles as they came to the same internal conclusion.
This…is a demigod worth fighting!
* * *
Percy felt bad for Isaiah. Sure, he had a certain amount of faith in the newcomer’s abilities but leaving anyone to fight Sherman alone was more of a punishment than a group assignment. He had even tried to convince Annabeth to let him handle Sherman alongside Isaiah but she had insisted on having him ready for phase 2. At least he knew that Sherman wouldn’t kill a demigod…probably.
Admittedly there was little time to worry about his siblings’ opponent when he had his own to deal with.
Clarisse La Rue. The big, mean, and rude head-counselor of the Ares cabin and massive pain in Percy’s butt. Stubborn, strong, and undoubtedly skillful there were few demigods that could actually go up against her. And with her electric spear even Percy was still vulnerable despite the Curse of Achilles.
Percy had faith in Annabeth’s plan, sure. That didn’t mean he had to be happy with his assignment.
“The drones see anything?” Percy asked Nyassa.
“A couple of those scorpions from last year, but way smaller. Nada on the main target.”
“Demigods?”
“A skirmish north of us. Apollo against some Ares kids. Clarisse is still right where she said she’d be.”
“Then it's time to split. Me and Annabeth will head to the beach. Malcolm, you’re in charge.”
“Copy that,” The son of Athena said somewhere off to Percy’s right. Since the battle of Manhattan, Percy’s own confidence in his leading ability had grown exponentially. Orders came naturally. Years of training and experience led to him knowing his friends’ strengths and weaknesses well. He knew what had to be done. With Annabeth behind him they would win this.
“Ready?” He asked Annabeth who smiled at him.
“Always.”
And they dashed off to the right, heading directly to the beach where Clarisse La Rue was waiting. Her spear crackling with red electricity.