Percy would scream Thalos's name if his neck didn't feel like a deflating balloon. He settled for a smile under his gas mask and a thumbs up when he realized his father couldn't see his face.

Thalos was almost brought to tears from his rage, though. It's a strange thing how anger could do that to a person, but he was just glad Percy was safe.

He took something out of his pocket and knelt beside Percy. It was a glass vial with a clear blue liquid inside.

"Can you take this, Percy? Just drink, it'll heal your throat and other injuries."

Thalos helped him sit up and take off the gas mask, then he drank the blue potion and felt warmth spreading through his body. His throat, which he didn't know was so battered, popped and the bones cracked into place.

He took in a deep breath as his back cracked into place, too, filling his lungs with air after the long time he'd spent unknowingly deprived.

"You really know how to make an entrance," Percy said as soon as his voice returned. "Ten out of ten save. Also hold your breath, there's a jolly bit of opium in the air."

Thalos's forehead wrinkled in disbelief; a small laugh escaped him.

"You almost died. I don't know why I'm even surprised. How many assassins are left?"

"Just Viper. The others are dead, but I did leave one alive to question later."

Thalos nodded and helped him stand. Then he turned toward Viper. The assassin flattened and upheaved a row of the field and soil as Thalos's kick sent him flying. The man was currently getting up, hand against his midriff.

Percy watched Thalos walk slowly toward Viper. His first instinct was to shoot the assassin with a disable shot and then end it once the shield was down. But he was more invested in watching Thalos fight.

Viper was most likely a Rank 3 Spiritmancer, but he also knew some Arete, and he was at least Rank 2 from how Percy could barely fight against his strength.

Thalos was a pure swordsman, but Percy didn't know what rank his Arete was at. If he had to guess, Thalos was Rank 3 or even higher.

Thalos stopped in front of the man and waited for him to get up, watching Viper stumble and groan.

"Stop pretending. I know you aren't that badly hurt."

Viper, seeing that he was caught, wasted no time whipping out his teleportation anchor and slamming it against the ground.

But nothing happened, and they were left in an awkward silence.

"I disabled the circle in your hideout, so no teleporting in. But I did force someone to help me teleport here."

Viper looked up at Thalos, squinting. He coughed and tried to stand, swaying from the opium in his veins.

"I'm in no shape to fight. I know your honour wouldn't let you strike down a defenseless man?"

"I have no such reservations for people who tried to strangle my son," Thalos replied coolly, placing a hand against the handle of his sword.

"Okay, okay. I can give you information," Viper promised. "About something House Amphene should be very fucking worried about."

"I know already. About the Rank 7 spirit you're to find. And your plans to do something to the land."

"It's not just something," Viper snarled. "Sion wants to pick up Demetria's prosperity and take it with him. It'll also be useful getting the Stormsword on his side."

Percy stepped forward, very interested.

"I don't know, people spout a lot of bullshit when you're planning to cut them in half. How do we know we can believe you?"

"I'll tell you the location of the… place," Viper promised. "The place where all of Demetria's prosperity comes from. I'm not meant to know yet but I do."

"Where is it?"

Viper pointed west immediately. He didn't know where it was but his two enemies didn't either. All he needed to do was lead them on for a bit then escape. It was regrettable that he couldn't kill Percy, but he would live with it.

Percy, unfortunately, actually knew where the temple was, and he immediately understood that Viper was lying.

"What is in this place and how is it connected to… the prosperity?" e asked. "That's such a strange name to give an item."

"It was the name that the medium told Sion," Viper explained. "It's a leftover from the people that came before even before the Heracles empire—Athens, the land of wisdom."

Percy was frozen for a second. This was it, a connection to one of the Twelve Olympians. Athena, goddess of war, strategy, and wisdom. She was a virgin goddess born from Zeus's cracked skull.

Strange Greek shit aside, this meant that she was most likely a part of history, similar to Heracles.

"What does this leftover do? Is it some kind of magical tool, or a sacred object?"

"I'll tell you more once my safety is guaranteed," Viper said calmly. "Let's go into the city and find somewhere to speak amicably."

Percy shook his head, wagging his finger in Viper's face tauntingly.

"Forgive me, but I don't think you actually know more. I think we're better off putting you down like a rabid dog and using your unconscious friend there."

"You can't be sure of that," Viper hissed.

"You pointed over there to tell us where the temple was," Percy said, walking by Thalos's side. "And I know for a fact that's a lie."

Viper knew he was caught. He pulled a poisonous dagger from his belt and flung it at Percy, turning to run away immediately after. He hoped it would kill the kid but he didn't have much hope. Right now he needed to put some distance between him and Thalos.

"Swift son of the sky, careless but loyal. Carry me in your hand, away from my enemies!" he chanted, already shaping the spell.

The air exploded, pushing him off the ground and into the air, away from Thalos and his grounded sword. He was flying for only a couple seconds when he noticed something was off.

He looked down at his chest and found blood pooling over his heart. Then the pain came and he coughed up a handful of blood. His concentration slipped as his mind buzzed, and he fell.

Like a bird shot from the sky.

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