Counting down. After this, three more chapters to go. It's almost over! But not yet!

Anyway, my cover competition is over. I would like to give a shout out to the six entrants; ___You___, Think_Inspiration, Awkwardacity, dadricprince848, dolphin1919 and MaureenHamm.

All the covers were amazingly astonishing. It was the hardest decision I've ever made since I had to choose what elective subjects I'd do in high school. But eventually, I settled on the cover made by Awkwardacity as the winner. Thanks so much to all the entrants for a job well done. And, as promised, a dedication to the winning cover maker.

Now I hope you enjoy the chapter. I know it took so long to write, but I hope you enjoy it anyway. Chapter 27 ...

Chapter 27: We Really Can't Handle More Complications - Bianca's POV

Things were finally starting to go our way.

We started off with about one to two hundred campers plus the fifteen Chaos warriors and Chiron. Then, of course, the Cyclopes army comes in to help, led by none other than Percy's own brother, Tyson.

A little while later, the Hunters of Artemis arrive with bows at the ready. And not long after, Grover appears with his satyrs and nature spirits in tow.

I was beginning to thing we might stand a chance.

But I knew not everything was perfect. Clarisse had informed me earlier that Luke was down, and I was with Zoë when she took a sword to the leg, and the amphitheatre was already filled with wounded campers. Leo nearly lost a fight with an empousa but managed to get away with just a leg injury.

About five hours in, I ended up fighting the hydra with Leo and the girl, Azelle.

I wasn't sure what to think of the new daughter of Poseidon. It was clear to even me that she took a shine to Leo who showed interest in her in return. It made me feel strange, like monsters were ripping at my insides. It took me a while to figure out what the feeling was.

It was jealousy.

I was jealous of Azelle. I knew that she liked Leo and he liked her, even if they didn't know it. They way they'd stuck with each other throughout the war was proof enough. I'd stuck with them, too. Mostly because of Leo.

It was harder, too, because Azelle was such a likeable person. I just couldn't bring myself to hate her. I found her a lot like me, and that made it hard for me to be mad at her for liking Leo. She was strong and had a sense of duty, like she would do whatever she thought needed to be done. A lot like Leo.

But I still couldn't understand why it was so hard for him to see that I liked him. We'd found we had so much in common

He was the only one in the Gennaios Squad that had died like I had; as a sacrifice. He'd sacrificed himself to close the doors, I'd sacrificed myself to defeat the defective Talos statue. Only we understood how that felt. The others all died in battles. We were different.

Also, he was funny. He always acted confident, even if it was clear to see that he was a nervous wreck. You hardly ever spotted him without a smile.

Needless to say, ever since we both joined the army, I'd admired and liked him. No, it was more than that.

I was hopelessly in love with Leo Valdez.

There. I said it. Happy?

But back to the battle, Leo, Azelle and I were currently facing a seven headed, leathery beast, and let me tell you, its breath stunk to high heavens. The first time it roared, I almost passed out as a result of the toxic fumes.

'Man,' Leo muttered, fiddling with his sword hilt. 'You ever heard of breath mints?'

I had to crack a smile. The hydra roared again, and this time, as well as the bad breath came a blast of hot acid. The three of us jumped out of the way to avoid getting scorched.

'Flames!' I yelled. 'We need to kill this thing! The only way is to chop off its heads!'

He looked at me like I was crazy, 'But it'll just grow two more in its place!'

'I know,' I said. 'That's where your fire powers come in.'

'I get it,' Azelle interjected. 'We cut off the heads, and you blast them so they don't grow back!'

I clenched my jaw to keep from snapping. Taking a deep breath, I focused on Leo.

'You need to be ready to set the stump alight once the head is gone,' I instructed, making sure he understood completely.

'Gotcha!'

He did a funny salute that I found rather cute before stepping back a few feet and summoning a good sized fireball in both hands. I turned to Azelle rather reluctantly.

'You and I need to cut its heads off,' I said, jumping back as it sprayed more acid. 'And fast.'

The hydra roared and I made sure to hold my breath this time. When it was done, I yelled, 'NOW!' Azelle and I charged the monster.

I wove around one of its heads and jumped on the neck of another. With one quick flash, a severed head fell to the ground below me.

'Flames!' I shouted.

Then I jumped down as a ball of fire catapulted towards the headless stump and set it alight. The hydra howled in pain and whipped its heads around. Azelle yelped, ducking under a head that snapped at her. She danced through the tangled heads and sliced her knife through a neck before darting out of the way.

Leo summoned another fireball and launched it at the stump. Now we had to avoid two flaming stubs.

'Hyah!'

I somersaulted between two heads, slicing my knife up and down both of them as I went. Two scaly heads fell to the ground. I landed upright and running.

Two flaming balls of fire shot past me and lit up the heads I'd just decapitated.

Four down, three to go.

I threw my knife like a boomerang. It cut through the air like paper and sliced straight through another head before twisting and returning to my hand. I love my Chaos weapons.

Fireball! Now!' I yelled.

'I'm on it!'

Heat seared the back of my neck as a fireball sailed past my ear. It hit the severed neck just as it started to bubble and grow.

'Little close there, Flames,' I muttered, stumbling back in line with him.

He shrugged, 'The stupid head moved. I was almost directly in front of you.'

Azelle back pedalled to stand with us. The hydra stumbled around blindly, it's remaining heads whipping around as if looking for the others.

'There's still two more,' Azelle reminded us.

'I know,' I grimaced. 'Why does it have to have so many damn heads?'

'Probably because the gods love torturing us,' Leo said bitterly. Then his eyes widened, 'Look out!'

I spun around as the hydra spotted us, it's two remaining heads hissing in rage and loathing. It's five burning stumps were burnt and blistered, and it's scaly mouths frothed and spluttered.

I glanced sideways at Azelle, 'One head each? Then Flames can burn them.'

She nodded and we turned to face the beast.

'Azelle! Angel!' Leo called after us. 'Just be careful.'

We charged for the final time, dodging sprays of acid and flashes of teeth. The smell of the monsters breath was overwhelming, I struggled not to pass out.

Azelle went for the head on the left while I went for the one on the right.

I winced as I jumped over a fallen camper and sprinted the final leg towards the hydra. I failed to successfully dodge a spray of acid, and a pile of the green goop splattered on my arm, hissing and bubbling violently. 

I screamed a battle cry and slashed furiously at the monsters neck. Azelle followed suit.

Two heads dropped to the ground simultaneously, their mouths gurgling remanants of the acid. Then two fireballs flew past us and hit the necks of the hydra. The monster made no last sound before finally falling still.

Azelle and I paused, breathing hard, as Leo limped over to us.

'Well, at least that's gone,' Leo mumbled tiredly.

He looked kind of pale, but I wasn't sure if that was from his earlier leg wound or the intensity of the battle. Azelle, too, like a bit dejected and weary. I didn't feel much better than they looked.

From the roars across the battlefield, I guessed that the monster army had recently gotten some rienforcements while we were battling the hydra. Not so good for us. I could tell from the looks on Azelle and Leo's faces that they were thinking the same thing.

I was just thinking of something to say that might cheer us all up, when I spotted Annabeth and Clarisse running across the battlefield towards us. The grim look on their faces immediately told me that something was wrong.

Leo grinned at them as best he could, 'Hey, guys.'

But his smile melted as they approached and he could read their expressions, 'What's wrong?'

The two girls puffed for a moment before they straightened and Annabeth met each of our eyes in turn.

'Epsilon.'

Annabeth's POV

(Remember, Annabeth knows who everyone in the army is, Percy told her. Just a reminder.)

I ran as fast as my legs would carry me, all the way to the amphitheatre. Clarisse right beside me, Azelle, Leo and Bianca hot on our heels.

I'd run into Clarisse a few moments ago when she had told me that Percy was in the hospital. She didn't what took him down, only that it was bad.

When we reached amphitheatre, a bed in the far corner was crowded. With a start, I recognized Thalia, Nico and Grover. Also around the bed was a warrior girl.

'Epsilon,' Clarisse called.

The four around the bed looked around, creating a small gap through which I could see the commander. His face was as white as paper, and the usual shine in his eyes was dull. Nevertheless, he smiled when he saw us.

'Annabeth! Drakon! Flames! Angel! Azelle!'

I returned his smile, and I could see each of the other do the same as their name was called. Grover and Thalia ran over to give me a hug.

'Commander,' Bianca said politely.

'Angel!' the other warrior cried, rushing over for a hug. 'I'm so glad you're okay.'

The two girls embraced tightly. I guess they were close.

'I'm glad you're okay, Huntress,' Bianca smiled.

Huntress. I ran over the names that Percy had listed in that cold, lonely cell back in Destruction's Fortress. Zoë was one of them. Zoë, Huntress, Zoë, Huntress ...

'The battle is not yet over,' Zoë said grimly. 'We may not be okay once the night is out.'

'Dawn is approaching,' Thalia interrupted. 'If we can hold out until then, we may stand a chance. The monsters are better at night.'

'She's right,' Percy muttered. 'But I'm not sure we can hold out that long.'

'Of course we can,' Grover announced bravely. 'The nature spirits are here to help now, and together with the campers, Chaos warriors and the Cyclopes,' I saw him shudder discreetly, 'we can win this war!'

'I appreciate the enthusiasm and confidence, Lord Underwood, but things may not be so simple,' I had to stifle a laugh. Percy calling Grover 'Lord Underwood' was really funny!

The satyr blushed, 'Uh, just Grover is fine. But with all the help we've got, how could we possibly not win?'

'This isn't like the Titan war or the Giant war,' I reminded him.

'Definitely not,' Percy agreed. 'This is Destruction. He is the most powerful being in the universe, rivaled only by Chaos himself. The Keres talons shouldn't have cut through my armour, but they did. These monsters have all been imbued with Destruction's power, which is why they're so much stronger than they should be. '

'But if they're so much stronger,' Azelle whispered. 'Then how do we defeat them.'

No one answered. Percy met my eyes, and in his I could see pain and bravery.

'We have to keep fighting,' he announced. 'If we don't, we're doomed anyway. At least if we fight, we have a small chance.'

'A small chance,' Leo repeated. 'Not a great chance, not a good chance, not an okay chance. Just a small chance.'

Biance's hand met her forehead in a harsh slap, 'Thanks for that vote of confidence, Flames.'

He smiled sheepishly, 'Sorry.'

'There are no more reinforcements,' Clarisse pointed out. 'At least fifty campers have been wounded, twenty more are down. Most of the warriors are still fighting. Luke hasn't regained consciousness. Atlanta and Theseus are helping the Apollo healers.'

'Then there's Epsilon,' Leo tried to mumble without Percy hearing.

'And what about Epsilon?' Percy's eyes flashed dangerously. Obviously he did hear.

Leo cursed in several languages including, but no limited to, Ancient Greek, Latin, Spanish and French. Where did he learn French?

'Stupid enhanced senses,' Leo muttered.

Percy glared from underneath his helmet. Leo tried unsuccessfully to avoid his gaze.

'Well,' Percy demanded.

Leo fingered his sword hilt nervously before bursting out, 'You were scratched by a Keres once before, you know that it can only be healed by god power. But the gods are probably busy fighting their own battle. Chaos can't help you because Destruction is blocking his powers and to get Chaos back, we need to defeat Destruction. It's a vicious circle. We can't win!'

He sat down hard on the end of Percy's bed. He put his head in his hands as his body started to shake. I was so stunned that it took me a few moments to realise that Leo was crying.

Percy's eyes softened. He reached out and grabbed hold of Leo's arm. The young fire user looked up, not even bothering to hide the tears lighting up the corners of his eyes.

'Flames,' Percy said gently. 'You know that my imminent death has been foretold ever since I first arrived at Camp Half-Blood. The number of times I've been about to die is astronomical. But I'm still here, and I will always be here. I only have to believe that something somewhere will go right.'

Leo sniffed, 'And if it doesn't.'

'Then I die happy,' Percy declared. 'I've lived my life as a hero. I've saved the gods, and numerous others. I die knowing I did everything I could protecting the ones I love most.'

Leo chewed his lip but didn't say a thing, which was unlike him.

'Epsilon,' I whispered. 'I don't want you to die.'

'And I don't want you to die,' he countered. 'I would rather slit my own throat then watch you die.'

I could speak for fear I would start to sob endlessly.

Percy locked eyes with everyone in our little circle around his bed and named as one by one.

'Annabeth, Drakon, Flames, Angel, Huntress, Azelle, Thalia, Nico, Grover; my friends and fellow Chaos warriors. We do not know what the rest of this battle will bring. Chances are, none of us will survive until dawn. But if we go down, we go down fighting. We die protecting the ones we love, protecting our homes.

We fight for freedom, for righteousness, and for each other. And that is why Destruction will never win this war. He fights for blood lust and power. He fights for no reason but conquer. If we fight for our homes, our families and our friends, we will prevail. Destruction stands no chance against us."

I could see his words ignighting hope in everyone's eyes. Almost like magic, each of us began to straighten, imbuned with new energy. We would fight and win, for each other.

Percy swung his legs over the side of the bed and stood on shaky legs. He unsheathed Riptide, the sword he'd summoned in the woods in which we'd emerged from Destruction's Fortress.

'Uh, Epsilon,' Zoë said nervously. 'You aren't strong enough to go out there.'

He glared at his sword as if trying to scare it into giving him more energy and power, 'I have to, Huntress. I have no choice. This battle needs me.'

As much as I wanted him to stay here and rest, I knew he was right, which was annoying. We couldn't win this war without him. We needed him for the Titan War, we needed him for the Giant War, and we needed him for this war against Destruction.

'Be careful,' I whispered.

He gave me the goofy grin I'd missed so much, 'Am I ever not?'

I gave him a look and he held up his good arm in surrender. He smiled.

'I will be,' he promised.

I bit my lip. Percy took a deep breath like he was summoning all his strength. Then he pushed up onto his feet where he swayed a moment, his legs buckling. Using Riptide as a crutch, he moved a few steps, then a few more without the sword.

He grinned, 'Let's join the battle.'

The ten of us bolted outside. We'd spent a good thirty minutes talking, and the battle had progressed massively. It was unclear which side was winning, but it was easy to see that our side was tiring.

Without another word between us, we all rushed off in different directions.

I'm sorry. This chapter was kind of uneventful. Just a bit of a love triangle and Percabeth.

I'm also sorry for not updating sooner. See, last Monday was Awards night at my school. I got an Excellence Award (5 A's). Two and a half hours of doing pretty much nothing. My fingers were so fidgety and I found myself typing my book in the air. Strange, right? I weird like that. Then, all week, I had heaps of assignments; English, Science, History, Computers, SO MANY!

So, yeah. I apologize for no updates this week. I'll try to update twice this weekend.

One last thing. I was thinking about the Watty's. Entries close on the 6th. Do you guys think I would have a chance? I could try to finish updating this book by then. Should I? It's up to you.

Thanks so much, all of you, for your patience. Remember to vote, comment and follow!
TripleM out :D