The air in the Half-Blood Camp was thick with tension, as if an imminent storm was about to break. The echoes of what had transpired between Annabeth and Inti reverberated through every corner of the camp, and Percy Jackson could no longer maintain his calm. Rage bubbled inside him, fueled by confusion and betrayal.
A group of campers watched from a distance as Percy approached Inti, who was casually leaning against a tree, as if the chaos he had left behind didn't matter to him at all. Grover Underwood, his loyal satyr friend, noticed the determination in Percy's eyes and stepped forward, trying to calm him.
"Hey, Percy, maybe you should…" Grover began, but Percy's gaze stopped him.
"No, Grover. Enough. This can't go on any longer."
As he reached Inti, Percy's fury exploded.
"What kind of monster are you, Inti? You played with the most important thing in my life!"
Inti, with a mocking smile, didn't seem surprised by the confrontation.
"I didn't play with anything, Percy. People do what they want. Annabeth wanted it, and I'm not the kind of guy to say no to an opportunity."
Percy felt the water around him beginning to stir, reflecting his rising anger. A small wave started to form in the nearby lake, mirroring his fury.
"She didn't want that!" Percy shouted, his voice filled with pain. "You're selfish!"
Without waiting for a response, Percy threw a punch. Inti, agile as a wolf, dodged the attack, but instead of retaliating, he allowed himself to be provoked, taunting Percy with a carefree attitude.
"Come on, is that all you've got?" Inti mocked, enjoying the reaction from Percy.
The air became dense and charged, and the campers watching felt uncomfortable. Percy's rage intensified as the small wave around him transformed into a swirling torrent, feeling like he was losing control.
"Life is a game, Percy. Why don't you relax and let things flow?" Inti continued to provoke, a smug grin on his face.
That's when Percy's torrent of water broke free, striking Inti with a force that made him stagger. But instead of showing weakness, Inti let the water flow around him, laughing as it surrounded him.
"That's more like it…" Inti said, stepping toward Percy with determination. "Show me what you really have."
Percy, blinded by fury, threw a second punch. This time, his fist struck Inti's body with devastating force. However, to everyone's surprise, Inti didn't back down. He stood his ground, as though the pain didn't bother him.
"Is that the best you can do?" Inti asked, the mockery clear in his voice. "If you think your punches can hurt me, you're gravely mistaken."
Percy, confused and wounded, felt his heart break. Inti seemed to enjoy the moment, which only heightened his frustration. The campers watching couldn't believe their eyes: Inti was willing to let himself be hurt just to prove his superiority.
With the torrent of water still swirling around him, Percy felt desperation beginning to consume him. He launched one final attack, but this time, Inti allowed himself to fall to the ground, as if the pain didn't matter at all. His challenge was clear: nothing could truly hurt him.
"Get up!" Percy shouted, feeling helpless as his friend collapsed to the ground. "This isn't a game!"
Inti, lying on the ground, laughed quietly, his arrogant gaze challenging Percy.
"That's exactly what it is, Percy. Just a game. But you… you take it so seriously. That's what makes you weak."
It was an emotional blow that left Percy stunned. The truth in Inti's words felt like a sharp knife piercing his heart. Annabeth, unable to bear it any longer, stepped forward, her eyes filled with anguish.
"Inti, this isn't what you wanted!" she cried, but he just laughed, enjoying the scene.
Percy, feeling his rage transform into despair, launched one last attack. With all the strength he could muster, he focused his energy and unleashed a powerful current of water at Inti, this time with lethal force. The impact was devastating, and Inti's body lay motionless.
Silence fell over the camp, the campers staring in disbelief as Percy, breathing heavily, realized what he had done. However, victory tasted bitter in his mouth.
But then, to everyone's astonishment, a flash of light appeared, and in an instant, Inti reformed several meters away, as though nothing had happened. His gaze was even more arrogant, and a deep, resonant laugh filled the air.
"Did you really think that could stop me?" Inti said, his voice booming with challenge. "I am so far above any being. Not even the gods have the kind of immortality I possess. I'm superior to everything."
His words echoed like a tolling bell among the campers, filling the air with a deathly silence. Percy, still stunned, felt as though the world was crumbling around him. Inti's mocking laughter reverberated in his mind, while emotional torment surrounded him. Desperation and impotence consumed him.
Annabeth, watching the scene unfold, understood that this was more than a mere confrontation. Inti wasn't just a rival; he was a symbol of the arrogance and chaos that threatened everything they had built. Their battle was not just physical; it was a fight for honor and loyalty in a world where boundaries were becoming blurred.
As the campers began to disperse, some murmuring about Inti's madness and others sympathizing with Percy's suffering, Luke Castellan watched from a distance, a sly smile on his face. He began to see Inti not only as an adversary but as a potential ally in his own rebellion against the gods.
The chapter ended with a feeling of desolation and despair. The Half-Blood Camp, once a safe haven, was now filled with divisions, and all the demigods knew that the chaos Inti had brought was only just beginning.