Leo didn't know what adrenaline took over him. But before he knew it, he was hacking and slashing and battling a lion.

Now that Leo was facing the monster, the boy wasn't really that scared. I mean for gods sake, he faced Gaea which was hundreds of times more scarier.

But that didn't mean he was winning the fight.

The lion was quicker than Leo. The first weapon he drew from his tool belt was his trusty hammer, but Leo soon realized that didn't do much compared to the Lions teeth and claws.

The Lion lunged at Leo and he ducked, whipped around and hit the lion right in the head.

Spectators howled and whistled.

"Let's go lion!" Some of them yelled.

"Let's go Leo!" A fistful of them chanted.

Leo ducked another lion attack. He had to focus, he couldn't get lost in the crowd.

The lion slid to the other side of the arena and then whipped around and growled at Leo.

The lion has a weird fighting style. Lunge and then regroup. Lunge and then regroup.

He snarled at Leo and Leo snarled back. It was hard to believe that Leo Valdez now, was the same boy who was ready to wet his pants ten minutes ago.

Leo swung his hammer again as the lion lunged at him. Leo struck the lion right in the nose and it recoiled, hissing.

Leo backed up quickly, trying to re-steady his balance. Blood rolled from the lions glabella. The lion shook it off and bounded towards Leo.

Leo continued to swing at the lion, but nothing seemed to really hurt it. The only reason that Leo has survived this long is due to his dodging skills.

I need to think of something, fast.

The lion let out a terrifying roar, one that made Leo shiver and the crowd thunder with applause.

The lion began to bound at Leo. Leo could sense his body shutting down. Fear crept up his stomach and into his throat. Oh please not now. Don't fail me now.

Leo looked into the lions eyes, it was ready to kill.

Leo felt his hammer fly out of his hands and hit the lion square in the face. The lion barely flinched. It seemed unaware of the blood gushing from its face.

I threw the hammer.

Leo tried to pull a new weapon out of his tool belt, but he couldn't concentrate.

Think Leo! Think!

The lion let out one more roar which snapped Leo back to the present. He didn't have much time.

Leo felt his hands stir. They got warmer and warmer.

Fire!

Is that even allowed?

Leo was out of ideas.

Why not?

Leo erupted into flames. They consumed his body and then something hit him.

Leo was knocked to the ground by the Lion, but Leo couldn't see where it was.

Why isn't mauling my face off?

Leo heard an ear piercing scream and then a small puff. The crowd roared and cheered.

That's why.

Even though the Lion was probably dead, Leo didn't fully trust the silence in the arena.

Did I do it? Leo asked himself.

He willed the fire away and was faced with a pile of dust which must have been the lion.

"Leo Valdez," Zeus' voice boomed. "You have completed task one, surprisingly-"

Leo couldn't agree more.

"Now you will complete challenge 2 tomorrow!"

The crowd cheered and cheered.

Streamers fell from the sky onto Leo's head.

Even though he's facing death again tomorrow, Leo couldn't of been happier at the moment.