Run
But suddenly, someone dropped right in front of Percy and Harry, holding a large shield in his hands, which slammed against the ground, even piercing through it, as a barrier appeared in front of them, like a wall covered in armor that felt completely familiar.
The armor of a knight.
And the chimera crashed against that barrier, causing the ground to crack as the force pushed everything back, dragging even the ground they stood on several meters, before the barrier shattered.
For a moment, Harry thought he recognized that back, but suddenly he felt weightless, as someone grabbed both him and Percy, and the next instant they were sent flying away from the monster, which lashed out at the knight with a massive swipe.
But he jumped to the side, and the strike slammed into the ground like an explosion, scattering rocks and dirt in every direction like projectiles.
As if it didn't care at all, Echidna raised her head toward Harry and Percy, who were being held by someone familiar to Harry, who was staring straight ahead with a serious expression as he looked at the monster.
The creature suddenly opened its mouth, aiming straight at them in the air.
And suddenly, a green mist that looked extremely dangerous poured out of it.
But before it could reach them, someone else appeared from the rooftop of a nearby building, wand already raised, pointing toward them.
"Accio," he murmured, and Adrien, holding the two boys, was pulled toward him instantly.
His wand didn't stop moving. He traced a small motion around himself as a bright red fire began to form.
"Pestis Incendium."
The flames burst from his wand like a stream of fire, instantly twisting as they collided with Echidna's poisonous breath, forming a massive flaming serpent.
The caster frowned for a brief moment at the shape the fire had taken. It could take any form, but as a dark spell, controlling every part of it was difficult… and yet, a serpent.
"Sirius," Harry said, recognizing the wizard standing on the rooftop.
Sirius only gave him a brief glance before turning his focus back to the spell, showing that even he needed full concentration to maintain it.
The massive red serpent of fire held Echidna back, but only for a moment.
Then, suddenly, she grabbed the serpent by the neck, something that should have burned her hands instantly, and as if tearing its head off, she split it in two, breaking the spell by force, before making a pulling motion.
Sirius watched as she seemed to absorb the magic within the spell.
"How is it that your escape ends with you fighting something like this," Sirius said, glancing briefly at his godson.
At the same time, Dorien stepped onto the rooftop beside him, leaving the others there, before pulling the massive sword from his back. He was wearing his full armor as well, and without hesitation, he moved to the edge and jumped straight toward the monster, which, after devouring the magic, rushed toward them again at full speed.
Suddenly, above them, something like a massive arrow of light flew across the sky, and at its highest point, it exploded, splitting into hundreds of smaller arrows that rained down like a storm over Echidna.
She reacted as if being stung by insects, shaking her hand in annoyance without even slowing down.
Just as Adrien came crashing down toward her, his massive sword glowing, his armor shining the same way.
The blade struck the monster, sparks flying as it scraped against her, and Adrien's eyes widened when he saw it hadn't even left a mark, even as he continued falling.
Echidna looked at him with irritation and swatted him away, but at that exact moment, as if appearing out of nowhere behind her head, someone grabbed her hair, wrapping it around her head and pulling it forward, as he drew two swords and struck straight toward her eyes.
It was Dorien.
Meanwhile, another arrow came from a nearby building, but this one was aimed at Adrien, or rather, aimed at his side. Adrien caught the arrow right in the air and spun, making it rotate, before releasing it straight into the hand that was about to hit him, stopping it just long enough so it wouldn't land, while he, the moment he touched the ground, quickly moved away.
Meanwhile, Dorien's attack wasn't any help either, because the moment his blades stabbed toward the monster's eyes, it felt as if they had struck something as hard as metal, only making Echidna blink slightly, as if something small had gotten into her eye.
"Tsk," Dorien clicked his tongue as he stepped on the monster's nose and pushed himself backward, while Sirius caught him midair and sent him flying away from Echidna's next attack, as she spat venom again.
But she didn't stop advancing, her body quickly reaching the building where Sirius was standing with Harry and Percy, with only Harry still conscious out of the two.
Sirius, seeing the monster, quickly moved his wand, pointing around the building as he murmured, "Protego Diabolica". Then a massive circle of blue flames ignited, seeming to block the monster's path. But obviously, Sirius knew it wouldn't last like the previous one.
So he turned and grabbed Percy and Harry under his arms, and ran toward the edge.
"Catch them," Sirius shouted before dropping them directly.
Harry's eyes widened in surprise.
But Sirius flicked his wand, and their falling speed slowed the closer they got to the ground, before they landed in someone else's arms.
This time, it was Luther.
And the moment he caught them, he immediately started running away.
Meanwhile, Harry looked back toward the building, which Echidna climbed until she reached Sirius, who cast another spell that turned part of the structure into massive chains to bind her, before jumping back, using apparition to vanish into the air.
Only to reappear right beside them, already preparing another spell in quick succession.
"Converto!" Sirius shouted, as the building where the chimera was restrained, even though the chains had already broken and she was about to leap toward them, suddenly trembled and turned into a massive hand that grabbed her serpent tail.
Meanwhile, Sirius, after casting several spells in a row, seemed to turn pale quickly. Even for him, using this much magic was excessive.
Harry noticed it, but only for a moment, because Luther kept running without looking back, while the other knights could be seen entering the fight, all of them buying time so Harry and Percy could be rescued.
Harry could see Gema, the one firing the arrows, jumping between buildings, following them from above without ever stopping her barrage.
And he understood.
This wasn't a fight.
It was a retreat.
And even then… it didn't feel like enough.
No matter how many of them stood in her way…
She kept coming.
But it seemed Echidna was fixated on capturing the two of them, ignoring the others, since they clearly couldn't harm her.
Suddenly, Adrien landed right beside them.
And once again, Harry felt himself being thrown.
At this point, it felt like he was nothing more than a ball, and Percy would definitely have a lot to say about how this felt if he weren't poisoned and unconscious.
Adrien caught them and increased his speed, while Luther once again raised his shield, stepping in front of Echidna, who slammed against the magical barrier, shaking the ground.
"You annoying flies," she roared, irritated at being interrupted again and again.
Before lifting her head toward the sky and letting out a powerful roar.
Everyone covered their ears for a moment, but quickly felt a bad premonition.
Then they heard it.
The sound of creatures roaring from all around them, closing in.
"Tsk," Adrien clicked his tongue as he sped up even more. "I hope what that girl said about the temples is true," he said, his legs not slowing down even as explosions could be heard behind them, their companions holding the line.
Meanwhile, Harry turned his head back, watching the explosions of fire, then forward again, toward the path ahead—
And he could see it.
What looked like the Gateway Arch.
The place Annabeth had said would be safe.