As Chiron led Ezekiel through the camp, the young demigod's stomach growled loudly, breaking the silence that hung between them. Ezekiel glanced at Chiron with a casual shrug, his hunger outweighing any semblance of concern for the impending catastrophe discussed in the council meeting.
"Got any snacks lying around, Chiron?" Ezekiel asked, his tone nonchalant as he rubbed his stomach. "I'm starving."
Chiron chuckled softly, a twinkle of amusement in his eyes. "Always thinking about food, aren't you?" he remarked, leading Ezekiel towards the camp's dining area.
Ezekiel grinned, his appetite driving him forward as they entered the bustling dining hall. The aroma of freshly cooked meals filled the air, making his mouth water in anticipation. He wasted no time in filling his plate with generous helpings of food, his hunger overpowering any lingering thoughts of the council meeting.
As he devoured his meal with gusto, Ezekiel's mind wandered, his thoughts drifting to more immediate concerns—like how to satisfy his insatiable appetite. The looming threat of disaster seemed distant and inconsequential compared to the delicious feast spread out before him.
Chiron watched with amusement as Ezekiel polished off his plate, a satisfied grin spreading across the young demigod's face. "Feel better now?" he asked a hint of amusement in his voice.
Ezekiel nodded, his hunger temporarily sated as he leaned back in his chair. "Much better," he replied, a contented sigh escaping his lips.
As the din of the dining hall began to subside, Chiron turned to Ezekiel with a serious expression. "Ezekiel," he began, his voice firm yet gentle, "it's time for your strength to be tested."
Ezekiel arched an eyebrow, his casual demeanor momentarily replaced by curiosity. "Tested? What do you mean?" he asked, his interest piqued.
Chiron nodded, his gaze unwavering. "You've shown great potential, Ezekiel," he explained, "but there's still much for you to learn. And fortunately, your cousin has offered to help you."
Ezekiel's eyes widened in surprise at the mention of a cousin. "You mean the Head of the Poseidon House right? " he asked, his curiosity growing. For some reason, Ezekiel wanted to battle Percy immediately after he saw him or at least he wanted to battle him more than usual.
The mention of a trial by combat against Percy Jackson ignited a primal excitement within him, stirring his dormant bloodlust to life.
The atmosphere in the dining hall seemed to shift, the ambient light dimming as if responding to the dark energy emanating from Ezekiel's very being. His eyes gleamed with an otherworldly intensity, the grin on his face taking on a perverted and predatory edge that sent shivers down the spines of those nearby but Chiron chose to ignore it as much as he could.
Ezekiel and Chiron left the dining hall going straight to the training grounds in the camp, where they met Percy training. Percy seemed a bit confused when he saw Chiron and Ezekiel watching him more so when he saw the abnormal look on Ezekiel's Face and asked 'Uhh do you guys need something' leaving Ezekiel confused because Chiron had said Percy volunteered and when Chiron saw the look on Ezekiel's face he chuckled and said ' He's my student so I volunteered him myself' with a rather weary look of happiness on his face to be honest he enjoyed it.
Suddenly Percy and Ezekiel were about to square off even though Percy gave no consent to this and would rather do some light training, a lot of campers had come to watch the spar mainly because they wanted to see the pompous child of Hades defeated.
The other campers watched with bated breath, their eyes fixed on the spectacle about to unfold.
As Ezekiel and Percy squared off, the air seemed to crackle with anticipation. The tension was palpable, the energy between them charged with the promise of violence.
Without a word, Percy lunged forward, his sword glinting in the sunlight as he aimed a swift strike at Ezekiel's defenses. But Ezekiel was ready, his reflexes honed by years of training and battle instincts sharpened by his primal bloodlust.
With a deft movement, Ezekiel dodged Percy's attack and countered with a series of swift strikes of his own. His movements were fluid and precise, each blow aimed with deadly accuracy as he sought to test Percy's mettle.
Percy, to his credit, held his own against Ezekiel's onslaught, his swordsmanship matched only by his determination to emerge victorious. The two demigods clashed again and again, their weapons ringing out in a symphony of steel as they danced across the training grounds.
But as the duel wore on, it became increasingly clear that Percy's years of experience and training were giving him the upper hand. Despite Ezekiel's raw talent and ferocious determination, Percy's skill and finesse allowed him to anticipate and counter Ezekiel's every move.
In the end, it was Percy's superior technique that proved to be the deciding factor. With a swift and decisive strike, he disarmed Ezekiel, sending his sword clattering to the ground as the crowd watched in stunned silence.
As Percy stepped back, his chest heaving with exertion but his eyes shining with satisfaction, Ezekiel's fury boiled over. "You didn't treat this like a true blood battle!" he roared, his voice echoing across the training grounds. "You held back, Percy! You left my bloodlust unsatisfied!"
The crowd remained silent, their shock palpable as they watched the scene unfold before them. Percy's victory may have been undeniable, but Ezekiel's anger burned bright and fierce, a testament to the primal instincts that drove him.
Chiron, usually composed and wise, was the most shocked of all. Not because of Ezekiel's skill, but because of the level of aggressiveness and bloodlust that radiated off Ezekiel's body during the battle. It was at a level unusual for a skilled, experienced warrior, let alone a 13-year-old boy who had just entered the camp. And the smile on Ezekiel's face during the match, seeming to revel in the brutality of it all, made it all the more shocking.
As Chiron approached to calm the situation, Ezekiel's gaze remained fixed on Percy, his eyes blazing with fury.