War Between Sea and Sky
"Do you know how to drive a boat?" Percy asked after both of them, carrying Alison, reached the very edge of the yacht. Specifically the lowered section meant for jet skis and lifeboats. Right now it was completely empty, except for a motorboat, also known as an inflatable boat, which in its cargo held a large black net that looked pretty durable, and what seemed to be a huge cooler, prepared to throw whatever they hunted inside. Or maybe just food.
"I don't even know how to drive a car," Thalia said in a genuinely serious tone. Even her face turned slightly pale for a moment.
"Guess that means I'll have to handle it," Percy said while both of them tossed Alison, still unconscious, into the boat.
The moment Percy climbed onto the boat, as if he had suddenly been struck by inspiration, he seemed to recognize every part of it instantly. His gaze automatically locked onto the engine, the steering wheel, and the speed controls.
Percy stayed silent for a few seconds, knowing why this was happening, but he didn't say it out loud and walked toward the control area, starting the boat with ease. Then he simply placed his hand on the lever to the side and pushed it slightly forward, making the boat begin to move. At the same time, with his other hand, he turned the wheel like an expert.
"Why isn't driving cars this easy?" Percy said for a moment.
But it wasn't the time for his dumb thoughts, because suddenly the water beneath them seemed to start bubbling.
So Percy immediately pushed the engine to full speed, rushing away from the area as fast as possible.
Right when an enormous current burst upward like a sea serpent. And several more surrounded the entire Princess Andromeda as if they were creating some kind of protective barrier around it.
Just as the electrical energy gathering in the sky suddenly came crashing down, lighting up everything in its path.
"Get down!" Percy shouted while covering his ears.
Then, instantly, the sound of the lightning, along with the electrical energy it carried, exploded directly against the water that was trying with all its strength to protect the yacht.
"BOOOOM."
The sound rang out while the entire sea around them shook violently, massive waves even beginning to form. And the Princess Andromeda shook as if it were about to capsize. But the same currents beneath it seemed to force it to stay upright, making it look as though the water underneath had formed gigantic hands holding the enormous ship in place.
While the electricity that struck the serpent-like currents of water spread through the sea, the energy covered the surroundings like an electric mantle over the ocean to the point that all marine life nearby slowly began floating to the surface, completely charred.
And the worst part was that it still wasn't over.
Because the sky seemed to twist, its center shining intensely as it gathered electrical energy once again. But this time even stronger.
Percy and Thalia, who were on the boat, which was being crawled over by electric sparks that made their hair rise slightly from the static while a numbness spread through their entire bodies, looked toward that point.
"I think… he might be overdoing it a little," Percy said while staring at Thor's next attack.
"What are you doing, Norseman? Do you dare interfere in a war that does not concern you?"
Suddenly, a furious roar echoed out, seeming to come from the sea itself, which began trembling as a waterspout violently rose upward before forming a humanoid shape, if it could even be called that, standing at least fifty meters tall.
With its appearance, the already out of control waves started crashing violently in a complete sea storm. The boats around the area couldn't withstand it for long. Only the Princess Andromeda and the boat Percy and Thalia were on seemed capable of enduring this violent storm.
"Hahahahaha! So you're the sea storm guy, huh? What are you talking about? I'm just testing a few random attacks," Thor's shout echoed through the sky, while his chariot, pulled by goats, could be seen moving around the storm clouds with ease.
"Leave this place! I am protecting this site! If you dare attack it again…!"
"ZZZZT… PUUUUMMM."
Before the god of sea storms could finish speaking, a lightning bolt crashed down with tremendous force directly onto the Princess Andromeda.
Immediately, the storm god roared and pointed his hand toward the Princess Andromeda. And several aquatic sea currents burst out of the water and shoved the yacht away to dodge Thor's powerful strike.
But a sea current could never be faster than lightning.
So the attack struck the side of the Princess Andromeda, barely tearing into its hull. Barely, like a burned slash left behind by the electricity.
But the next part was done by the very waters that were pushing it.
The pressure from them crashing against that damaged section caused it to split open wider and wider, while a huge amount of water immediately poured through the opening.
"YOU!" the storm god roared while using his power over the water to keep the ship afloat.
"HAHAHAHAHA!" Thor burst out laughing when he saw that, because he hadn't aimed to destroy the ship. He just wanted to annoy that guy. But the one who ended up tearing it open even more was the storm god himself.
"If that is what you want, then I will destroy you!" the storm god shouted furiously while several waterspouts began forming around the area, as if the sea itself were trying to battle the sky.
For his part, after that attack, Thor didn't launch another one. Instead, he seemed to be dodging the waterspouts with his chariot, which flew easily between them.
Meanwhile, in the back, Grover and Malcolm had tearful faces as they felt like they were on the most extreme roller coaster of their lives.
"I want to get off!" Grover cried in panic.
"I want to go back to camp! I refuse to keep going with this adventure or mission or trial or whatever this is!" Malcolm said while shaking his head, already telling himself that if he survived this, he was going to say it straight to Percy's face.
Meanwhile, Clarisse and Bianca were gripping the side railing of the chariot tightly, currently wondering if agreeing to go with Thalia on this trial had really been a good idea.