# Chapter 7: The First Extraction Nico slipped back into Cabin 3 before Percy returned from his training session. The cabin felt eerily quiet without its primary occupant. A few personal belongings scattered around Percy's bunk—a photo of his mother, a worn backpack, a college brochure—created small islands of personality in the otherwise spartan space. Nico paced nervously across the blue-tinted floor that resembled the ocean floor. Abalone shells embedded in the walls glinted in the dim light filtering through the salt-encrusted windows. The sound of the nearby ocean, always present in this cabin, seemed to mock him with its rhythmic whispers—the constant reminder of Percy's connection to the sea, to power that Nico could only dream of possessing. He stopped in the center of the room and closed his eyes. "Morpheus," he whispered. "I've made my decision." For a moment, nothing happened. The cabin remained silent except for the distant sound of waves. Then the air thickened, seeming to congeal around him. The shadows in the corners of the room deepened, stretching unnaturally across the floor. A scent like night-blooming flowers filled the space. "I knew you would choose wisely," said a voice behind him. Nico turned to see Morpheus sitting casually on Percy's bed. The god appeared as a handsome young man with dark hair and constantly shifting features that never quite settled into a definite shape. His eyes swirled with colors that shouldn't exist together—blue and violet and black all at once. "Tell me what to do," Nico said, his voice steadier than he expected. Morpheus smiled, patting the space beside him on Percy's bed. "Come, sit. The process is simple, though it requires patience and finesse." Nico hesitated, then sat beside the dream god, feeling the strange coolness that emanated from Morpheus's form. "Percy's power is connected directly to his godly core," Morpheus explained. "It's generated from his divine essence and then it flows through his entire body, but like all energy, it can be redirected, concentrated, and—with the right technique—extracted." "And I'll be able to take that power for myself?" Nico asked. "Indeed. Though the process must be done gradually, over several nights. This godly power is what protects his body of any interferance and attack, what gives him a demigod energy that he can use to control its domain, and such a superior stamina and greatness. It's this power that he unknownly use to be the great hero he is." Morpheus leaned closer. "First you will need to drain him and steal it from him if you want to move forward." Nico listened intently as Morpheus continued. "First, you must massage Percy's muscles thoroughly while he sleeps. This will stimulate the flow of his godly energy and direct it toward his chest. Focus particularly on his arms, shoulders, and back, always working toward his pectoral muscles." Morpheus demonstrated the motion with his hands, showing how to knead and press. "The human body naturally stores energy in its largest muscle groups," he explained. "By manipulating these muscles in a specific pattern, you'll redirect the power to his pectoral region—a place from which it can be more easily extracted." Nico nodded, trying to commit the movements to memory. "Second," Morpheus continued, "once you've redirected the energy, you must stimulate his nipples directly. They will serve as the... extraction points, if you will. As you massage them, they'll begin to transform, becoming more prominent and receptive." Nico felt his face flush at the intimate nature of what Morpheus described, but he forced himself to focus on the god's words. "And third," Morpheus said, his voice dropping lower, "you must extract the power directly. Once the nipples are properly developed, they will produce a substance infused with Percy's godly power. By consuming this essence, you will absorb his power." "I have to... drink from him?" Nico asked, swallowing hard. Morpheus nodded. "The most direct transfer possible. Each night you complete this ritual, more of his power will become yours." Nico frowned, a question forming in his mind. "If I take his godly power, what happens to the rest of him? His strength, his... his body?" He tried to keep his voice neutral on the last word, but something in Morpheus's knowing smile suggested he failed. "An excellent question," Morpheus said. "This initial ritual targets only his godly energy—his ability to control water, it's also what protects his body of any interferance and attack, what gives him a godly power that he can use to control its domain, and such a superior stamina and greatness. His current physical strength and form—the result of years of training—will remain unchanged. His awesome godly power has let him train and transform his body into the mighty great muscles he has, to be the strongest demigod in the Earth and what gives him such a special aura. Without it maybe it will not be so easy for him to improve, but the greatness he has already have will remain intact. He will still be the great hero, but he will loose his father's help." Nico felt both relief and disappointment at this news. Part of him wanted Percy to remain physically perfect, while another part wanted to strip away everything that made the hero superior. "For now," Morpheus added, as if reading his thoughts, "we focus on his godly powers. Only when those are completely drained can we move to the next phase." "There's more?" Nico asked. "Oh yes," Morpheus said with a small, secretive smile. "But one step at a time. Master this ritual first. It will take at least three nights to fully drain his godly energy." The god stood, his form already beginning to shimmer at the edges. "He's coming now. Remember what I've taught you. Start slowly tonight—his defenses are strong, and pushing too hard too quickly will only alert him." "Wait," Nico said quickly. "How will I know if it's working?" "You'll feel it," Morpheus assured him. "Each drop will make you more powerfull, more aware. And you'll see the changes in him too—subtle at first, and not physical." With that, Morpheus dissolved into mist, leaving behind only the faint scent of night flowers. The shadows in the cabin returned to their normal positions just as footsteps approached the door. Nico quickly moved to his own bunk and grabbed a book, pretending to read as Percy entered the cabin. The son of Poseidon looked exhausted. His hair was matted with sweat, his skin glistening in the dim light. He'd put his t-shirt back on after training, but it clung to his torso, outlining every muscle. Dark patches of sweat marked the fabric across his chest and under his arms. "Hey," Percy mumbled, barely glancing at Nico as he trudged to his bed and collapsed face-first onto it. "Hard training?" Nico asked, trying to keep his voice casual. Percy grunted an affirmative into his pillow. After a moment, he turned his head to the side. "Twelve sets of automatons. New record." "Impressive," Nico said, genuinely meaning it despite the jealousy that twisted in his gut. "Too tired to shower," Percy muttered, his eyes already closing. "Just gonna... sleep a bit..." Within minutes, Percy's breathing deepened into the rhythm of sleep. Nico watched him from across the cabin, his heart pounding in his chest. Part of him still couldn't believe what he planned to do—to violate Percy's body, to steal his power. But then he remembered the pitying look Percy had given him at dinner, the way everyone flocked around the hero while leaving Nico alone. He placed his book aside and stood up, crossing the small space between their bunks. Percy hadn't even bothered to get under the covers. He slept on his stomach, one arm dangling off the edge of the bed, his face turned to the side. In sleep, his features softened, making him look younger and more vulnerable. Nico hesitated, then reached out and lightly touched Percy's shoulder. The hero didn't stir. Drawing a deep breath, Nico began the hypnotic induction he'd learned from Morpheus. "Sleep deeply, Percy," he whispered, his fingers tracing patterns on Percy's back. "Deeper and deeper with every breath. Your body is heavy, too heavy to move. You hear only my voice. You respond only to my commands." He continued the induction for several minutes, watching as Percy's breathing became even deeper, his body completely relaxed. Nico tested the depth of the trance by lifting Percy's arm and letting it drop—it fell limply back to the bed without any resistance. "Turn over," Nico commanded softly. Percy's body obeyed without hesitation, rolling onto his back. His eyes remained closed, his expression peaceful. "You will stay deeply asleep," Nico continued, "but you will respond to everything I do. You will feel pleasure from my touch, but you will not wake. Do you understand?" "Yes," Percy murmured, his voice thick with sleep. Nico swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. He reached down and carefully lifted the hem of Percy's sweat-soaked t-shirt, pushing it up to expose his torso. Even in the dim light, Percy's body was magnificent—defined abs, broad chest, the perfect V-shape tapering down from shoulders to waist. Following Morpheus's instructions, Nico placed his hands on Percy's shoulders and began to massage. He pressed his fingers into the firm muscle, feeling the tension beneath the skin. Percy made a small sound of contentment as Nico worked. "Your power is flowing," Nico whispered, continuing the hypnotic suggestions. "Moving through your body, gathering in your chest." He moved his hands down Percy's arms, squeezing the biceps, forearms, then back up to the shoulders. With each stroke, he directed his movements toward Percy's chest, imagining the power flowing in that direction. "All your strength, all your energy, moving to your chest," he continued. "Concentrating there, ready to be released." Percy's skin was warm under his touch, still slightly damp with sweat from his training. Nico inhaled deeply, catching the masculine scent that was uniquely Percy—a mix of sea salt, clean sweat, and something indefinably heroic. The scent made Nico's head spin slightly, and he had to focus to continue the ritual. He moved his hands to Percy's abs, feeling the ridges of muscle beneath his fingertips. Each touch sent a thrill through Nico's body, a mixture of desire and the anticipation of power. He worked his way up slowly, methodically, always directing the energy upward toward Percy's chest. "Your power gathers in your chest," he repeated. "Concentrating, building, ready to be released." When he finally reached Percy's pectoral muscles, Nico paused, taking a moment to simply appreciate their perfect shape and firmness. Then he began to massage them directly, using the circular motion Morpheus had demonstrated. He felt the solid muscle beneath his palms, watched as his fingers pressed into the flesh and released. To his amazement, as he continued the massage, he began to notice subtle changes. Percy's pectoral muscles seemed to be filling out slightly, becoming bigger and more defined. The change was minimal—nothing anyone would notice unless they were looking for it—but to Nico's sensitive touch, it was unmistakable. "Your power is gathering here," Nico whispered, excitement building in his voice. "Building and concentrating. Your chest is changing, adapting, becoming a vessel for your power." He continued the massage for what felt like hours, though it might have been only thirty minutes. His arms ached from the repetitive motion, but he refused to stop. He focused entirely on Percy's chest, watching in fascination as the muscles continued their subtle transformation. Finally, judging that the first phase was complete, Nico moved to the second step. With slightly trembling fingers, he focused on Percy's nipples. They were small and flat against his chest, unremarkable except for their perfect symmetry. Nico gently circled them with his fingertips, applying light pressure. "Your nipples are sensitive," he whispered. "They're changing, growing, becoming receptacles for your power." As he worked, Percy's breathing quickened slightly, though he remained deeply asleep. Nico continued the circular motion, occasionally pinching very gently, always maintaining the hypnotic suggestion that the power was gathering at these points. Gradually, almost imperceptibly, Percy's nipples began to respond. They hardened under Nico's touch, then—more surprisingly—seemed to swell slightly. The areolas darkened subtly, expanding just a milimiter. "Yes," Nico breathed, watching the transformation. "Your power is gathering here, changing your body, preparing for release." He continued stimulating Percy's nipples for several more minutes, until he was certain the change was stable. They now stood out a little bit from Percy's chest, clearly defined against the muscular pectorals. The change was still subtle enough that no one would notice it through a t-shirt, but to Nico's touch and close inspection, it wasn't insignificant. Taking a deep breath, Nico prepared for the third and final step of the night's ritual. He leaned down, bringing his face close to Percy's chest. He could feel the heat radiating from the hero's skin, smell the intoxicating scent of his body. "Your power is ready to be released," Nico whispered, his lips almost touching Percy's right nipple. "Through these points, your godly energy will flow." He closed his mouth over the nipple, feeling its hardness against his tongue. He sucked gently at first, then with increasing pressure. Percy shifted slightly in his sleep, a small moan escaping his lips. Nico continued, using his tongue to circle the nipple while maintaining suction. Just as he began to think nothing would happen, he felt something warm and sweet against his tongue—just a drop, barely enough to taste, but unmistakably there. He sucked harder, and another drop came, then another. The liquid was warm and tasted like nothing Nico had ever experienced before—sweet but also salty, with an underlying power that seemed to crackle on his tongue like electricity. Nico swallowed the few drops he managed to extract, then moved to Percy's left nipple, repeating the process. Again, only four drops flowed, but Nico eagerly consumed it all. As the last drop slid down his throat, Nico felt a strange sensation spreading through his body—a warmth that started in his stomach and radiated outward to his limbs. It wasn't a dramatic change, more like the first sip of hot chocolate on a cold day, a subtle but undeniable warmth that made him feel slightly stronger, more alert. He sat back, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, and looked down at Percy. The hero remained deeply asleep, his chest rising and falling steadily. The only evidence of what had happened were his nipples, still glistening with Nico's saliva. Nico pulled Percy's t-shirt back down, covering the evidence of their secret ritual. Then he carefully reinforced the hypnotic suggestions. "You will not remember this when you wake," he said softly. "You will feel rested and normal. If you notice any changes in your body, you will assume they're from your training. You will want me to spend the nights in your bed to prevent me of having any new nightmares. Every night you will fall asleep and you will not wake up until morning." Percy made a small sound of acknowledgment in his sleep. Nico returned to his own bed, his mind racing with what had just happened. He'd done it—he'd taken the first small portion of Percy's godly power. The amount was minimal, just a taste really, but he could feel it inside him, a spark of something foreign yet exhilarating. He lay back on his pillow, closing his eyes and focusing on the sensation. Somewhere deep inside him, something new stirred—a connection to water he'd never felt before. It was faint, barely perceptible, but definitely there. Tomorrow night, he would take more. And the night after that, even more. Soon, all of Percy's godly power would be his. And then, perhaps, they would finally be equals—or better yet, their positions would be reversed. Percy would be the ordinary one, while Nico would command the power of the sea. The thought brought a smile to his face as he drifted into sleep, dreaming of oceans that bent to his will and a powerless Percy looking up at him with admiration instead of pity. Percy opened his eyes to the soft morning light filtering through the salt-encrusted windows of Cabin 3. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness. The familiar sound of waves echoed through the walls, making the cabin feel alive with the rhythm of the sea. He stretched his arms above his head and yawned. Despite the intense training from yesterday, he felt completely recovered—better than recovered. Energy coursed through his body as if he'd slept for days instead of just one night. He doesn't know it, but his godly power is linked and generated by his great divine essance, the most powerfull of any demigod, so he will constantly refill his power even if drained, it only takes time. And his divine essance can only be given away voluntarly. Nico would need first to drain him dry of all his huge amount of godly power that protects his body of any other theft, before proceeding any more. "Morning," Nico said from across the cabin. Percy turned his head to see the son of Hades already dressed and sitting on his bunk, flipping through a book without seeming to actually read it. "Hey," Percy replied, swinging his legs over the side of the bed. "You're up early." Nico shrugged. "Couldn't sleep." Percy stood up and stretched again, feeling the pleasant pull of muscles across his back and shoulders. He grabbed a clean Camp Half-Blood t-shirt from his trunk and glanced toward the bathroom door. "I should probably shower before breakfast," he said, sniffing at his shirt from yesterday. "Pretty sure I still smell like the training arena." Nico looked up quickly, his dark eyes widening slightly. "Actually," he said, his voice catching before he cleared his throat, "I'm very hungry, I thought maybe we could go for a swim in the lake later. No point showering now if you're just going to get wet again, right?" Percy considered this, running a hand through his disheveled blond curls. "Good point. I'll just change and head to breakfast." He peeled off his sweaty t-shirt and tossed it into a laundry pile in the corner. Nico quickly looked back down at his book, but Percy caught the movement from the corner of his eye. He grabbed the fresh shirt and pulled it over his head. He stepped into a fresh pair of shorts but decided his underwear could last another day—no one would know the difference, and he didn't want to dig through his trunk for a clean pair. As he dressed, Percy caught a whiff of his own scent—stronger than normal, musky and somehow powerfull. He didn't find it unpleasant, surprisingly. It smelled natural, like the sea after a storm. "Ready for breakfast?" he asked Nico, who nodded and closed his book. They headed to the dining pavilion together, joining the flow of other campers making their way to the morning meal. Percy nodded to several friends as they passed, noting how many of them seemed to linger close to him as they walked. "Hey, Percy!" a voice called out. He turned to see a group of Aphrodite campers waving at him, their smiles bright and inviting. "Morning," he replied with a casual wave. One of the girls—Melissa, if he remembered correctly—broke away from the group and approached him. "I saw you training yesterday," she said, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. "Those automatons didn't stand a chance." Percy smiled, surprised by the attention. "Thanks. Just trying to stay sharp." "Well, it's working," she replied, her eyes traveling over his body before she rejoined her siblings. Percy turned to find Nico watching the interaction with an unreadable expression. "What was that about?" Percy asked as they continued walking. Nico shrugged. "The Aphrodite cabin always flirts with everyone." "Not with me," Percy said, genuinely confused by the unusual attention. They reached the dining pavilion and separated to their respective tables. Percy noticed several campers glancing his way throughout the meal. He loaded his plate with eggs, bacon, and toast, feeling hungrier than normal. As he ate, Annabeth approached his table, her stormy gray eyes studying him curiously. "You're drawing a lot of attention today," she observed, sitting across from him. Percy swallowed a mouthful of eggs. "Am I?" "Don't tell me you haven't noticed," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Half the camp keeps looking at you like you're a new exhibit." Percy glanced around, confirming her observation. Several campers quickly averted their eyes when he caught them staring. "Maybe I have something on my face?" he suggested, wiping his mouth with a napkin. Annabeth leaned forward, sniffing slightly. Her eyes widened. "Percy, are you wearing cologne or something?" "What? No," he said, surprised by the question. "You smell... different," she said, her cheeks coloring slightly. "Stronger..." Percy laughed uncomfortably. "Just me, I guess. Maybe it's a new Poseidon thing?" "Maybe," Annabeth said, looking unconvinced. She stood up abruptly. "Anyway, I should get back to my table. See you at training?" "Yeah, see you there," Percy replied, watching her walk away with a puzzled expression. After breakfast, Percy headed to the training arena. The morning session focused on combat skills with a rotating series of partners. Percy worked through each matchup methodically, his movements fluid and powerful. He disarmed a son of Ares within seconds, sidestepped a daughter of Apollo's thrust so easily it looked like he'd known it was coming, and caught a son of Hermes mid-air as he attempted a flying attack, setting him down gently but firmly on the ground. "Gods, Percy," Chiron commented from the sidelines, his tail swishing with approval. "You're in exceptional form today." Percy grinned, barely winded despite nearly an hour of continuous combat. "Thanks. I feel good." From the edge of the arena, Nico watched Percy's movements with intense focus. He studied the way Percy's muscles flexed beneath his t-shirt, the confident set of his shoulders, the grace with which he wielded his sword. Despite the extraction of some of his godly essence the previous night, Percy showed no signs of diminished ability. If anything, he seemed more impressive than ever. Nico touched his own chest, feeling the warm spark of power he'd absorbed. It was a small amount—just a taste really—but he could sense it inside him, a foreign yet thrilling energy. The morning training concluded with Percy defeating every opponent he faced, sometimes taking on two or three at once to make the matches more interesting. Campers gathered around to watch, cheering and clapping as Percy demonstrated techniques or executed particularly impressive moves. "Show-off," Clarisse muttered as she left the arena, but even she seemed impressed by his performance. As the campers dispersed for lunch, Chiron cantered over to Percy. "We'll be having a game of Capture the Flag this afternoon," he announced. "Would you like to captain one of the teams?" Percy smiled, wiping sweat from his brow. "Sure. Sounds fun." Chiron nodded. "Excellent. Clarisse will lead the other team. You'll have an hour after lunch to gather your allies and plan your strategy." As word spread about the upcoming game, campers began approaching Percy, volunteering for his team. By lunchtime, he had representatives from the Athena, Hermes, Apollo, and Hephaestus cabins, along with several minor gods' cabins. Nico slid onto the bench beside Percy at lunch. "I assume I'm on your team?" he asked quietly. Percy nodded, surprised by the question. "Of course. I could use your shadow abilities for recon." Nico picked at his food. "You were impressive this morning," he said after a pause. "Everyone was watching you." Percy shrugged, uncomfortable with the praise. "Just a good day, I guess." "More than good," Nico insisted. "You took down every camper who challenged you. Even the Ares kids couldn't touch you." Percy changed the subject, discussing strategy for the upcoming game. After lunch, he gathered his team at the edge of the forest to finalize their plan. "Okay," Percy said, unfurling a rough map of the forest on the ground. "Clarisse has Ares, Dionysus, Demeter, and Aphrodite, plus a few others. They're strong, but we have the advantage in speed and versatility." The team huddled around as Percy outlined positions and strategies. Annabeth suggested defensive placements, while Malcolm proposed a diversionary tactic. Connor and Travis Stoll offered to lead a small stealth team around the perimeter. Percy listened to each suggestion, incorporating the best ideas into a comprehensive plan. "Nico," he said, turning to the son of Hades, "can get close to their flag and report back on their defenses?" Nico nodded, his dark eyes unreadable. "I can do that." "Perfect," Percy said, clapping him on the shoulder. "Just be careful not to get caught." The team dispersed to prepare, gathering armor and weapons. Percy strapped on his own bronze breastplate and adjusted his shield. He caught his reflection in a polished shield propped against a tree and paused, studying himself. His blue eyes looked especially bright today, and his blond curls caught the sunlight in a way that seemed almost luminous. He felt strong—incredibly strong—as if the power of the sea surged through every cell in his body. The conch horn sounded, signaling the start of the game. Percy took his position with the main assault team while Nico began his reconnaissance. The forest came alive with the sounds of clashing weapons and shouting campers as the two teams engaged. Percy led his group through the center of the forest, meeting resistance from a contingent of Ares campers. He deflected a spear thrust from Mark, one of Clarisse's brothers, and countered with a shield bash that sent the larger boy stumbling backward. Two more Ares campers charged him simultaneously. Percy ducked under their swings and swept his leg in a wide arc, knocking both of them off their feet. "Push forward!" he called to his team, who followed his lead with renewed enthusiasm. They broke through the Ares line and continued deeper into enemy territory. Percy sensed a water source nearby—a small creek running through the forest—and reached out with his power. The water responded instantly, rising in a wave that crashed into a group of Demeter campers who had been hiding in the undergrowth, ready to ambush them. "Thanks, Percy!" Malcolm called as they passed the drenched and sputtering campers. Nico appeared beside Percy. "Their flag is in a clearing about fifty yards ahead," he reported. "Clarisse and four of her siblings are guarding it, plus a couple of Aphrodite kids who seem to be laying some kind of trap—probably charm-speaking anyone who gets close." Percy nodded, quickly adjusting their plan. "Change of strategy," he told his team. "Annabeth, take half the group and create a diversion to the east. Stolls, circle around to the west with your stealth team. I'll go straight for the flag with Nico and Malcolm." The team split up according to his instructions. Percy waited until he heard the sounds of combat erupting to the east—Annabeth's diversion working perfectly—before signaling to Nico and Malcolm to follow him. They crept forward through the underbrush, staying low and moving quietly. As they approached the clearing, Percy spotted the red flag standing proudly in the center, with Clarisse and her siblings forming a defensive circle around it. Two Aphrodite campers stood slightly behind them, whispering to each other and glancing around nervously. "I'll distract them," Percy whispered. "Malcolm, be ready to grab the flag if you get an opening. Nico, watch our backs." Before they could respond, Percy burst from the undergrowth, Riptide gleaming in his hand. The Ares campers turned toward him, weapons raised. "Jackson," Clarisse growled, leveling her electric spear. "Should have known you'd come yourself." "Wouldn't miss it," Percy replied with a grin. He charged forward, meeting their defensive line head-on. Clarisse thrust her spear at his chest, but Percy sidestepped with inhuman speed, grabbing the shaft of the weapon and using her momentum to pull her off balance. As she stumbled, he engaged her siblings, parrying blows from three different directions at once. His body moved as if it had a mind of its own, anticipating attacks before they came. He twisted between two Ares campers, causing them to collide with each other, then blocked a strike from a third with his shield while disarming the fourth with a flick of his sword. The Aphrodite campers began speaking in soothing, persuasive tones. "You don't really want to fight us, Percy," one of them said, her voice layered with charm-speak. "Why don't you just sit down and rest for a while?" Percy felt the magic wash over him but shook it off with barely an effort. He winked at the surprised camper. "Nice try." Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Malcolm attempting to circle around toward the flag, but one of the Ares campers spotted him and moved to intercept. Percy needed to create a bigger distraction. Reaching out to the nearby creek again, he pulled a massive column of water into the clearing. With a thrust of his hand, he sent it swirling around the defenders, creating a miniature hurricane that disoriented and separated them. "Now!" he shouted to Malcolm. But instead of waiting for his teammate, Percy suddenly decided to go for the flag himself. He sprinted through the gap in the defenders, dodging outstretched arms and wild swings. He reached the flag and grabbed it, yanking it from its holder just as Clarisse broke free from the water vortex and lunged at him. Percy leaped backward, higher and farther than should have been possible, clearing her reach easily. He landed twenty feet away, flag in hand, and took off running toward the boundary line. He heard shouts behind him as the entire red team realized what had happened. The sounds of pursuit grew as he raced through the forest, the flag streaming behind him like a banner of victory. Percy broke through the tree line and saw the boundary creek ahead. He put on a burst of speed as arrows from the Apollo cabin on the red team whizzed past his ears. With a final leap, he crossed the creek, landing in friendly territory with the red flag held high. The blue team erupted in cheers. Campers rushed forward, lifting Percy onto their shoulders as the conch horn sounded to signal the end of the game. Even the red team looked more impressed than upset as they gathered at the boundary. "That was incredible!" a camper shouted. "Did you see how fast he moved?" another exclaimed. "He took on Clarisse and four of her siblings at once!" Percy grinned as his teammates paraded him back toward camp, the captured flag still clutched in his hand. He caught sight of Nico watching from the edge of the celebration, his expression unreadable. As the excitement began to die down and campers dispersed for dinner, Percy found himself surrounded by admirers congratulating him on his performance. He accepted their praise graciously, though he felt slightly uncomfortable with the attention. "That was quite a display," Chiron said, appearing beside him. "Even for you, Percy, that was exceptional." "Thanks," Percy replied, running a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. "Just got lucky, I guess." Chiron studied him with ancient, knowing eyes. "Perhaps," he said, though he sounded unconvinced. "In any case, well done. You should clean up before dinner." As Percy headed back toward his cabin, he noticed Nico following at a distance. Nico seemed deep in thought, his eyes fixed on Percy's back as if trying to solve a puzzle. "Hey," Percy called, slowing to let Nico catch up. "You were great today. That intel on their defenses was perfect." Nico shrugged. "You're the one everyone's talking about. Single-handedly capturing the flag like that." "It was a team effort," Percy insisted. Nico didn't respond, continuing to study Percy with that same intense gaze. As they walked, several campers approached to congratulate Percy again, slapping him on the back or offering fist bumps. By the time they reached Cabin 3, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows across the camp. Percy pushed open the door, looking forward to changing out of his sweaty clothes before dinner. Nico lingered in the doorway, watching as Percy placed the captured flag in a corner of the cabin like a trophy. Despite the first extraction, Percy remained as powerful as ever. "I'm going to change," Percy said, already pulling his armor off. "Want to head to dinner together?" Nico nodded, his mind already planning the night's second extraction. "Sure," he said quietly. "I'll be right here."