The Gamer of the Sea (PJO x DXD)

The teams were announced. Athena had made an alliance with Apollo and Hermes, the two biggest cabins. Apparently, privileges had been traded—shower times, chore schedules, the best slots for activities—in order to win support.

I glanced around as campers moved to their sides, weapons flashing in the firelight, armor clanking.

[Quest Update: Capture the Flag – Victory Condition: Steal the Ares Banner.]

[Bonus Objective: Achieve Victory Without Injury. Reward Multiplier: x2.]

Great. As if playing war wasn't enough, now I had a scoreboard in my head.

Luke clapped a hand on my shoulder. "You're with us. Guard duty at the creek."

"Guard duty?" I frowned. "That's like—sitting on the bench, isn't it?"

His grin turned sharp, just a little too sharp. "Think of it as a test. Annabeth wants to see what you can do. And me? I'm curious."

The way he said it made the scar across his face twist in the torchlight. For half a second, my intuition lared—an itch at the back of my skull, a warning whispering He's watching you. Be careful what you show him.

I forced a grin back. "Yeah, sure. Guard duty. Totally exciting."

Luke's eyes lingered on me, suspicious, calculating, like he was already filing away my reaction.

Chiron hammered his hoof on the marble.

"Heroes!" he announced. "You know the rules. The creek is the boundary line. The entire forest is fair game. All magic items are allowed. The banner must be prominently displayed, and have no more than two guards. Prisoners may be disarmed, but may not be bound or gagged. No killing or maiming is allowed. I will serve as referee and battlefield medic. Arm yourselves!"

Campers surged toward the weapon racks, armor clanging as they jostled each other. Some kids strapped on helmets that looked two sizes too big, others tested spears, and a few immediately began arguing over who got which enchanted item.

I hung back. Honestly, the whole thing looked less like preparation for battle and more like Halloween at a medieval yard sale. My [Instinct] skill was already buzzing in the back of my head, telling me the fight was going to be easy—too easy, actually.

Luke tossed me a helmet. "Here. Try not to dent it."

I caught it but didn't bother putting it on. "Why? Planning on throwing rocks at me?"

A couple of Hermes kids snickered. Luke just gave me that sharp, calculating look again.

Meanwhile, across the pavilion, the Ares kids were strapping on enough iron to sink a ship. Clarisse barked orders like she thought she was Patton reborn. Watching them stomp around in formation, I couldn't help smirking. They looked less like warriors and more like angry refrigerators on legs.

"Careful," one of the Apollo boys muttered beside me. "Those guys fight dirty."

I shrugged. "Then I guess I'll just have to fight funny."

I caught up with Annabeth.

"Hey," I said, trying not to sound like I was suffocating under the bronze fortress strapped to my arm. "This whole border patrol thing—you sure it isn't code for cannon fodder?"

She shot me a look, her gray eyes gleaming under the torchlight. "Just stay in position. Don't try to be a hero."

"Right," I muttered. "No heroics. Just me, a giant frying pan, and the dozen muscle-heads who think deodorant is optional. What could possibly go wrong?"

Annabeth didn't even crack a smile. She was in full commander mode, already barking orders at the rest of Athena's kids.

I adjusted my shield and sighed. If nothing else, at least mocking Clarisse and her crew would make this fun.

It was a warm, sticky night. The woods were dark, fireflies sparking on and off like the place couldn't decide if it was haunted or romantic. Annabeth stationed me by a little creek that gurgled over some rocks, then the rest of the team melted into the trees like they'd been planning this all day.

So there I was: standing alone, blue plume on my helmet, giant shield strapped to my arm, sword at my side. If you squinted, I probably looked like a proper soldier. If you didn't squint, I looked like a guy stuck babysitting the world's loudest birdbath.

The sword felt wrong, as usual—every camp blade I'd touched so far seemed to think it knew better than me how I should swing it. The shield? Big enough to double as a dining table. Heavy? Not really. Just awkward. But honestly, who cared? If I needed a weapon, the creek at my feet was worth ten of these things.

The conch horn blew in the distance. Metal clashed, kids screamed war cries, and the woods lit up with chaos. An Apollo kid with a blue plume darted past me, fast as a deer, vaulting the creek and vanishing into enemy territory like he'd been rehearsing it all week.

I didn't bother chasing. Through the water around me, I could already feel them—ripples in the creek, weight shifting on damp earth, bodies moving long before they broke the treeline. They lost any surprise advantage the moment I entered the camp.

Great, I thought. Let the others play tag with sticks. I'll be right here waiting to be jumped, very fun.

——————————-

Then I heard it—a low, ugly growl, right behind the underbrush. My hair stood up a little. Not because I was scared. No, it was more like… annoyed.

I raised my shield, the caduceus glinting in the moonlight. Something was stalking me. Fine. Let it.

The growl died. A pause. Then explosion. Five of the ugliest Ares kids I'd ever seen barreled through the trees like they were auditioning for a horror movie.

"Cream the punk!" Clarisse shrieked, her ugly pig eyes glaring through her helmet slits. She brandished a five-foot spear, sparks of red lightning crawling over the metal. Her siblings had bronze swords. Cute.

I sighed. Really? This is my "big threat" tonight?

They charged. I sidestepped the first kid's swing. Too slow. Amateur hour. Clarisse's spear slammed against my shield with a zing of electricity. Pain?. Minor. Only slightly above my electricity resistance. Annoying? Absolutely. My arm tingled, my teeth tingled—but really, I hadn't even started.

Another Ares kid clubbed me in the chest. I hit the creek bank. Splash. They laughed like I'd just done a cannonball at the summer pool party.

"Give him a haircut!" Clarisse shouted. Yeah, because that's terrifying.

I got to my feet, sword raised. Clarisse tried to thrust at me again. I caught the shaft with shield and sword and snapped it like it was a twig. She squealed. I smirked.

"Really? That's all you got?" I said. "I thought Ares kids were supposed to be tough."

Ugly Number Two and Three came at me. Flat of the sword to the helmet, crack!—Ugly Two's eyes were doing that weird vibrating thing before he toppled into the creek. Shield smash to Ugly Three's face. He ducked, backing up. Ugly Four froze, realizing I wasn't even breaking a sweat.

Clarisse charged, still screaming insults that would make a sailor blush. I batted her back with the sword-butt and shoved her into the creek. She sputtered, drenched, and glared like she'd never seen someone have fun with electricity and still survive.

"Come on!" I yelled. "Is that it? I'm getting bored over here!"

Her siblings lunged again. I spun, sending water flying from the creek with a swipe of my shield, and their footing went straight to hell. They slipped, flailed, and fell in.

I stood in the middle of the creek, water dripping off my helmet, grinning. "Seriously, guys? I'm just warming up. Who's next?"

By now, they weren't even attacking seriously. Just flailing, trying not to drown. I could've taken the whole cabin if I wanted—but why rush the fun? Tonight, I was playing.

Sadly, then the yelling started—elated, ridiculous screams that made my ears ache. I looked up and saw Luke tearing toward the boundary line, the red team's banner held high like he'd just stolen Zeus's thunderbolt. A couple of Hermes kids flanked him, fending off anyone foolish enough to chase. Behind them, a handful of Apollos kept the Hephaestus kids busy.

The Ares cabin scrambled to their feet, and Clarisse muttered something that sounded like a curse, but probably just ended in "ugh, idiot."

"A trick!" she bellowed. "It was a trick!"

Yeah, genius observation, Clarisse. Meanwhile, Luke was already halfway across our territory, and I was standing in the creek, arms crossed, water dripping off my helmet, watching the chaos like it was a rerun of a bad cartoon.

They staggered after him, but it was too late. Everyone cheered, and I rolled my eyes. Of course we won—I hadn't even needed to do anything serious.

The red banner shimmered and flipped to silver. The boar and spear dissolved, replaced by a huge caduceus. Blue team picked Luke up on their shoulders like he'd won an Olympic gold medal. Chiron cantered out, blowing the conch horn.

[Quest Completed]

Victory. Yay.

But honestly? I was disappointed. The Ares kids were supposed to be scary. Supposed to challenge me. Instead, I'd basically played water tag with half the camp while mocking them the whole time.

I shrugged. At least now I had a good story for dinner.

I was about to join the celebration when Annabeth's voice, right next to me in the creek, said, "Not bad, hero."

I spun around, but she wasn't there. Well visibly.

"Where the heck did you learn to fight like that?" she asked. The air shimmered, and she materialized, holding a Yankees baseball cap like she'd just plucked it out of thin air.

I crossed my arms, dripping wet, trying not to laugh. "You set me up," I said.

Annabeth blinked. "I—what?"

"You put me here because you knew Clarisse would come after me, while you sent Luke around the flank. You had it all figured out."

She shrugged. "I told you. Athena always, always has a plan."

I shook my head. "Your plan was stupid. If I were a normal demigod with, like, less then a week of actual fighting experience, I would've been pulverized. Pulverized! And you'd have been standing there, all 'Aha! It's part of the plan!'"

Annabeth raised an eyebrow.

I laughed, dripping water all over the creek. " You're lucky the Ares cabin are not that skilled and mostly rely on physical strength, because otherwise, we'd both be picking me out of the creek right now."

She frowned, probably wondering if she should be offended. I didn't care. I'd won, I'd mocked the 'strongest' of the Ares cabin, and I wasn't about to let her get a single victory credit for that. I'm the only one who gets that bragging right.

I heard a canine growl. A howl ripped through the forest.

The campers' cheering died instantly. Chiron shouted something in Ancient Greek—later I realized I understood every word: "Stand ready! My bow!"

Annabeth drew her sword, eyes sharp.

Then I saw it. Black as a storm cloud, the hound crouched on the rocks above us. It was huge—size of a rhino—with lava-red eyes and fangs like daggers. The same stupid dog. It was staring straight at me.

"Run!" someone yelled.

Everybody froze. Everybody except me.

I reached into my pocket, and with zero hesitation, I pulled out my pen and twisted off the cap.

[Riptide] (Anaklusmos)

Rank: Legendary

Type: Weapon – Celestial Bronze Xiphos Sword

Description:

Forged in the fires of Mount Etna and cooled in the River Lethe, Riptide carries the authority of the sea itself. After a fateful sacrifice by its first wielder, the sword gained a profound affinity with the ocean, resonating with children of the sea and ocean-affiliated spirits. The celestial bronze sword passes harmlessly through mortals while striking monsters, spirits, and divine constructs with devastating precision.

Abilities:

Shapeshift (Pen Form): Transforms instantly into a xiphos-style blade. Requires intent.

Return to Owner: Reappears in the owner's pocket or hand within seconds if lost.

Monster Slayer: +25% damage to monsters.

Mortal Edge: Passes through 'normal' mortals without harm.

Sea's Blessing: +100% damage when wielded by children of the sea.

Special Trait – Hero's Memory: Acts in defense of allies or innocents trigger subtle increases in sharpness and speed, as though the blade remembers its heroic lineage.

————————————

The hound lunged.

Before it even realized what was happening, One second it was there, the next I slammed my shield into it and sent it tumbling into the creek with a splash. It scrambled out, snapping and thrashing, claws digging into mud, but I was already circling it, sword in hand, just grinning.

"Really? That's all you've got?" I said, dodging its lunge. Every time it tried to bite, I was faster, hitting it with the flat of my sword, shoving it back with my shield. Its growls turned into frustrated snarls, and I leaned on my shield, smirking.

"I was going to take it easy on you," I said, letting it skid across the mud. "But you're making me do extra credit."

Annabeth and Chiron were both staring like their brains had short-circuited. They were probably completely convinced the creek was the reason I could even the thing. Little did they know—I could've done this anywhere.

The Hellhound thrashed, snapping, but there was no stopping me. One last shove with my shield, a quick jab with my sword, and it collapsed, panting and defeated. I leaned back, brushing mud off my armor, and gave it a mock salute.

"Okay, seriously. That was way too easy."

Chiron trotted up next to us, bow in hand, his face grim.

"Di immortales!" Annabeth exclaimed. "That was a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They're not… they're not supposed to—"

"Someone summoned it," Chiron said. "Someone inside the camp."

Luke came over, the banner in his hand forgotten, his moment of glory gone.

Clarisse shrieked, "It's all Percy's fault! Percy summoned it!"

"Be quiet, child," Chiron snapped.

We watched the black Hellhound's body melt into shadow, soaking into the ground until it disappeared. I leaned on my shield, smirking, totally unbothered.

Chiron trotted up next to me, his hooves splashing in the creek. "Perseus, step into the water. Just for a moment."

I frowned. "Step into the water? Really? Can't we do this in some other way? Like, I don't know… standing on dry land like a normal demigod?"

"You'll see why soon enough," he said calmly.

I sighed. "Fine. Better late than never." I waded in, the water rippling around me as if it were alive. The air above shimmered, and a spinning green light appeared, forming a holographic trident that glowed like molten jade.

Annabeth's eyes went wide. "Gods… I thought it was Zeus."

I squinted up at it. "Yeah, don't know how you got that. I guess Dad likes the dramatic entrances."

Chiron's voice boomed, reverent and firm: "Poseidon. Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."

I blinked at the trident hovering above me. "Figures. Gods. Always gotta make a scene."

[Your Favorability with the Divine being Zeus has been Reduced]

Well, that was easy.