The king knew her plan; he knew they would follow her into it. What they didn't know was that they would be locking themselves into his own trap. They think they could change him. But he can change them, and that's what he'll do. He would turn their own game against them. And then use them to escape the island and march towards Olympus. He would make sure Olympus would be reduced to ashes. And the gods locked up in Tartarus, where they truly belong.

He would show no mercy to anyone who has ever defied him or hurt him. And the ones who trespassed on his island would be punished the most. He would take what belonged to him, control. And he would destroy anything that came in his way. Even if it was the most thing he held dear.

*************

"That's your plan! Annabeth this is suicide! It would be too obvious." Jason argued.

"No one asked for your opinion Jason. We're going to do it whether you like it or not. And if you're too scared then you don't have to come along." Piper snapped at him, clearly irritated with his presence.

Jason pretended not to have heard her, but the hurt look in his eyes was easy for everyone else to notice. He glanced at Hazel, sitting next to Frank who was lying on his bed. Still hurt from his punishment. "Hazel, Frank you can't possibly be considering to take part in the competition. Our plan would be too obvious." Jason tried to explain.

Frank shook his head. "Jason I'm sorry to say but I'm on Annabeth's side in this. We have to get started on the quest. Everyone would think we're just trying to fit in. No one even knows what we are exactly here for. Either way I can't compete, I'm badly hurt. But the rest of you should." Frank said glancing at Hazel and smiling.

Annabeth couldn't happen but frown at the sight of the happiness Frank and Hazel were in even in the darkest of time. It was something she lost, happiness and love. When she lost Percy, she lost the two things she cherished too.

But she had other things to worry about. Annabeth knew she had to do her ultimate best and sacrifice everything to get Percy back. And she would. She had high hopes that her plan would succeed. The plan was simple. Thanks to the research Hazel and Nico have done at the library, they found out that the Forest of Blood, the island was divided into nine parts. Each part was ruled by someone who belonged in a group of people called the Upper Guards and the ruler of the island ruled over all of them. They served as the king's or queen's closest advisors and guards. Every year a competition is thrown by the king or queen of the island for competitors willing to earn a spot as one of the Upper Guards, even the year's previous Upper Guards have to fight for their spot back. And there are only nine spots available.

If at least Annabeth, or one of her friends can win their selves a spot as an Upper Guard they'll be able to get closer to Percy and manage to fit in more. No one would even dare to question them since they hold a high position in the island.

But it was the competition Annabeth was worried about, she didn't want anyone to risk receiving a horrible painful injury. Frank is already out because of his previous injuries from getting tortured. But Annabeth didn't want all of them to win a spot, it would be too obvious that their up to something and she didn't want anyone getting suspicious of their plans, especially Octavia.

"We better get going to get ready." Piper said as she tied her hair into a ponytail. "The competition is about to start."

********

The competition took part in the camp's arena. It was like a colosseum but instead the battle field was covered in every corner, it was a cage meant to trap the opponent and the monster they have to battle. There is no escape.

The competitors would be thrown into the arena one by one and a monster would be thrown at them, and Percy would choose the monster the player has to fight. It's simple: you have to kill it. But if the monster is about to make its killing move and it would finish you the king would make the monster disappear and you'll be eliminated. And the humiliation you have to bear after that would make you wish you died on the hands of that monster.

Annabeth recited the rules of the game and the strategies she would use in her head as she stood behind the iron gates with the other opponents. The audience were already seated, she could see a fraction of the arena but the only person she was focused on was Percy, he was seated on a throne at the very end. Front and center.

She glanced back at her opponents. Piper, Jason, Leo, Hazel and Nico weren't people she would call her enemies in the game, more like allies. She needed at least one of them to win. On the other hand the previous Upper Guards, Vanessa, Vincent, Octavia, Atlanta, a daughter of Aphrodite called Celeste who Annabeth heard charmspoke her enemies to kill themselves, a son of Hermes named Noah who apparently was the most wanted thief in Ancient Greece, a son of Hecate called Owen who used his magic for no good, a daughter of Demeter called Genevieve who poisoned all Greek's fertile lands and finally a son of Ares called Dominic who tore people's limbs out for fun.

Annabeth guessed that no one besides her and her friends dared to actually challenge the previous Upper Guards for their spot. And considering the death glares they gave them, Annabeth has just made new enemies, she added that to her long list of enemies that will never end.

"Now remember." Annabeth said as Percy quieted the audience down and said the rules. "Fight your best. This is a golden opportunity and I don't think we'll have any others. Make it count."

Her friends nodded in response.

"First contestant, Nico Di Angelo." Percy's voice boomed over the crowd, followed by boo's and people yelling curses. Nico rolled his eyes at their comments, but he seemed nervous as Annabeth saw the changing look in his eyes when Percy said his name.

"Good luck Nico." Hazel said as Nico walked towards the opening iron gates.

"Break a leg!" Noah, son of Hermes shouted, the previous Upper Guards laughing with him. "Around here we mean it."

Nico didn't say anything or look back but waited as the gate rose. He gripped his sword and walked out onto the arena.

********

Nico felt like he was back in time, in ancient Greece or Rome when this was what people used for entertainment. He thought it was barbaric.

The only monster he wanted to fight was the one sitting on the throne, smiling down on him, Percy's eyes shining with pure darkness.

Percy raised his hand for silence to stop them from their annoying comments towards Nico. But Nico knew he wasn't doing it for him. The teasing crowd was silenced in seconds. "Let the competition begin!" The crowd cheered. Percy snapped his fingers and Nico's doom appeared.

Nico knew how to fight a drakon. But a dragon he didn't know. He didn't even remember ever knowing if there was a lot of difference but it wasn't the time and place for his question to be answered. Unfortunately he had to answer it himself.

"And remember, using your powers is allowed!" Percy yelled over the crowd.

Now that. Nico could do. But he wanted to entertain his audience, he would take it slow. A mischevious smile appeared on his face as the dragon advanced towards him.

Nico was going to have fun.

The dragon swung his tail towards Nico, Nico saw his chance and jumped, his hands caught on of the dragons' scales. Nico dangled for his life in midair as the dragon raised his tail off the ground. With all his energy Nico swung his body, landing on the creature's tail. The tail landed on the ground again with a loud thud but Nico stayed put. The dragon had no choice but to use fire. The dragon blew, flames escaping through its mouth. But Nico was fast enough and was already on the ground when the fire burned through the dragon's tail.

The dragon's tail was cut in half, the spiked end gone. The monster roared in agony, it's yellow eyes scanning the arena for the search of his prey. But he was met with hundreds. Nico stood in the front of his army, smiling. Behind him hundreds of skeletons waited his command to charge. The crowd was silenced with surprise and horror, they've never seen anything like this. The dragon may be able to burn through all the skeletons but he won't notice Nico.

Nico raised his sword and yelled for the skeletons to charge. He stayed back as the skeletons ran to battle. His key was distraction. Distract the monster so he can kill it. He raced towards the dragon's tail, the end that stuck to the creature's body and began to climb up the dragon.

The skeletons were already being burned and the crowd screamed pointing to where Nico's position was, climbing the dragon's body. Probably hoping to get the dragon's attention. Idiots, Nico thought. Nico reached the wings and bought out his sword and began to cut one of the pair. A dragon without wings is already considered dead. Nico didn't know where he had heard that but it made sense.

He ignored the dragon's blood that was covering his armor and continued on slicing the wing off. The dragon was too busy fighting the skeletons to actually comprehend where the pain came from. The wing fell and blood poured out of the dragon's body like water falling in a waterfall. The dragon roared back in pain but Nico didn't fall but the dragon finally noticed him on his body.

The skeletons were already burned but they have provided Nico enough time to make sure the dragon loses a lot of blood. If the monster bleeds a lot it could die. Nico kept climbing, dodging every ball of fire flying towards him.

He was at the dragon's neck when the monster attempted to use his one wing to fly, it flapped a few seconds in the air, causing Nico to almost lose his balance. But the dragon failed and crashed down. The dragon's blood was already filling the arena. Nico kept climbing ignoring the dragon's failed attempts to shake him off. Nico was at his throat. His sword wouldn't be big enough but Nico didn't have a choice and he slashed his sword across the dragon's neck. The dragon roared backwards, a mistake on its behalf because the cut grew bigger. Nico finally lost his balance and fell in the air. But thank the gods he landed on the dragon's tail and rolled down in a pool of the dragon's blood.

The dragon's head crashed down on the ground, its eyes closed, forever.

Even though Nico was hated at this camp, the crowd cheered. He didn't want to admit it but he bought down the monster in a way he never thought he could. It made him look strong and not to be missed with which is a reputation you need in this camp to survive. Even Percy was clapping. The crowd became quiet, awaiting Percy's judgement on Nico's performance.

"Nico Di Angelo." Percy said. "I here by position you as one of my Upper Guards for your spectacular performance." Percy smiled. "And thank you Nico for showing how a true villain should fight and kill his enemies. A slow painful death. Just like you did to the poor dragon." Percy laughed.

Nico frowned immediately. Percy played him. Percy made him do what he wanted him to do. Fight like a villain, slowly kill and torture like a villain. Percy made him do what he would never do. Nico turned and made his way back to the gates. Victory should have been painted on his face but only defeat was what the artist had painted, Percy.

Nico didn't win. He lost. And he had a feeling Percy would win, even at the very end.

Author's note:
I seriously loved writing this chapter for some reason. I hoped you guys liked it and u like the Annabeth's plan to getting close to Percy. The next chapter my be published either next week or after. Depends. And guys there's this story u guys have to read it's called Tempest by megswriting  it's simply amazing and I'm in love with it although I'm only at its beginning because I never have time to read but I'm loving it till now!! So you guys have to read it!!