The wolves pounced.
Thalia moved first. She slammed the base of her spear into the ground, lightning surging upward and then arcing down into the clearing. Thunder cracked the sky. A wall of electricity raced along the blood-soaked earth, striking the first wave of beasts and sending them tumbling back with smoking fur and snarls of pain.
Aegis flashed in her grip, its surface alive with the rage of Medusa's gaze. The monstrous faces nearest to it howled and reeled, clawing at their skulls as the shield repelled them.
Luke charged through the gap she created, sword flashing. He met the wolves head-on, slashing and pivoting with fluid precision. One lunged for him and he rolled beneath it, slicing upward and catching it across the side. Another came from behind and he twisted, kicking off a fallen body and driving his blade into the second beast's flank.
Lucas hung back only for a breath, eyes scanning the chaos before activating his veil sight, hoping it could help with determining if Lycaon was going to join the frey by judging his emotions.
Then he moved.
Fire burst from his hands, swirling in arcs that danced along the treeline and shot toward the lycanthropes. One of the beasts lunged for him, but a wall of flame erupted between them, forcing it to stumble back. Another flanked him, but Lucas vanished in a blink, reappearing ten feet away in a swirl of silver mist.
He landed in a crouch, eyes glowing faintly.
The illusions began.
He didn't just create images. He crafted scents. The smell of blood. Sweat. The trio's scents, mimicked and twisted, turning the illusions into the real things in the senses of the beasts.
A wolf leapt toward what it thought was Thalia, only to find empty space and be met with the full swing of her spear as she pivoted into the real attack. Another turned from Luke to charge at a copy of him that flickered like a heatwave mirage, vanishing the instant claws passed through it.
A lycanthrope broke through Thalia's line. Lucas flung a hand upward, snapping fire into its face. It reeled back, but not before slashing her side.
She winced. Blood darkened her shirt.
Still, she stood. Holding back the Lycanthropes while Luke focused on the wolves.
Lucas danced through the battle, dodging strikes and sliding past bites.
Lucas pushed harder.
His breathing was already strained. Each spell left the world slightly blurred. Each burst of fire or illusion tugged more deeply at his focus. He juggled too many things at once: the burning line of defense, the scent-crafted illusions,creating opportunities for Thalia and Luke and watching for Lycaon.
Another doppelganger shimmered beside Thalia and caught a charging lycan off guard. Letting Thalia to reposition and strike it back with some lightning.
A roar tore through the chaos.
Lycaon stepped forward.
The pack parted around him like smoke. His cloak billowed in the wave of his roar, revealing pale skin crisscrossed with blackened veins. His hands curled into claws. His mouth stretched wider, fangs gleaming.
He moved.
Fast. Too fast.
In a blink, he was on Lucas.
Lucas vanished, barely. Mist wrapped around him and pulled him several feet away, where he stumbled and landed hard. Before he could rise, Lycaon was already there.
A clawed hand raked toward his chest. Lucas flung his body sideways, rolling into the ash and mud. He summoned a burst of fire behind him, forcing Lycaon to backpedal.
Then, Lucas vanished again.
Reappearing behind a tree, he drew a deep breath and sent out another wave of scent-reinforced dopplegangers, this time adding sound and temperature. Hoping to truly fool Lycaon.
Lycaon snarled, eyes darting.
"Tricks," he spat. "All you have are tricks."
But it worked. Lycaon spun toward the nearest Lucas just as lightning struck him from the sky.
Thalia, panting, stood with her hand outstretched, the crackle of divine power fading from her skin. Smoke rose from where the bolt had hit Lycaon.
He didn't fall.
He laughed.
He slashed at Thalia, cleaving through her neck. But instead of blood, mist separated from the neck. Another clone.
Thalia, appearing further away - disguised as Lucas, struck again. Thunder roared as another bolt met its mark. Yet again, not doing anything.
Lycaon snarled, eyes darting looking for the true Lucas.
He saw him, hiding behind a tree. He rushed towards Lucas, smashing through the tree and gripping Lucas' throat. Terror flashed in the demigod's eyes as Lycaon smirked and crushed his throat. Only for Lucas to burst into flames, enveloping Lycaon.
Lucas appeared beside Thalia.
His limbs ached. He could barely keep the Mist steady in his mind.
Lycaon reappeared through the smoke, once again entering the battlefield.
He charged towards Thalia, claws drawn. And then froze. Golden chains appearing around him, trapping him. Thalia used this opportunity to retreat, putting space between herself and Lycaon as he broke free, tearing the chains apart.
He let out a roar in madness, eyes glaring at Lucas.
He once again tried to slice through him but the claw went through him, as once again chains rose, trapping Lycaon.
Lucas smirked remembering how he once did the same to Elizabeth but needing a ritual to help support him. His prowess in magic now showing.
Lucas joined up with Thalia as Luke rejoined them moments later, bloodied but breathing.
They were once again together, surrounded by Lycan and some surviving wolves, Lucas remarked how Luke got the better end of the deal in opponents.
Lycaon circled them. Free again.
Lucas' instincts flared, telling him he would die if he didn't deactivate his veil sight. So he did.
In Lucas' memory, something like this happened only once. Back at camp.
Lucas smirked, relaxing his body, extending a hand towards Lycaon and egging him on, taunting him into attacking.
This caused Lycaon to freeze in surprise and indignation, yet before that can be turned into fury, he turned his head sharply.
A silver arrow flew through the sky.
Lycaon caught it.
Midair.
Just inches from his temple.
His gaze snapped toward the woods. Through the trees. As though he saw something none of them could.
He growled.
"So. She comes."
He turned once again to Lucas, seeing his taunting eyes and while he wanted to kill this demigod, he couldn't stay any longer.
With a motion, he vanished into the woods. The pack followed, melting back into the dark.
The trio stood still, chests heaving.
Silver shone between the gaps of the trees, heralding the arrival of a group of girls bathed in a moonlight glow.
The Hunters of Artemis had arrived.