Percy heard the whirling sound of the axe before he saw it, and turned in the direction it was coming from. That it didn't entirely take his head clean off was actually sort of a miracle. His facial expression changed instantly, and he went from worried about Ruby, to tempestuous. People always said Percy's demeanor, like his father's, could change in an instant. Almost in one swift motion, Ruby was behind him and Riptide was in his hand, glowing in his hand.
"We're kinda busy, so show yourself and get ready to die or get lost," he demanded. A tiny part of him was actually almost thrilled at the prospect of a monster. He'd been wanting to kill something properly for a while now. Mostly since Tyson disappeared, and despite Magnus and Sir Lohengrin's help, it just hadn't been nearly as satisfying as slicing through a monster and watching it rain down golden dust over everything.
What he had been expecting, he wasn't entirely sure. Maybe some random Robin Hood type that didn't like kids, or the owner of these grounds? He hadn't actually expected to see an Empousa with her bat-like wings, flaming hair, red eyes, metal leg, and donkey leg. He grumbled in front of Ruby, completely blocking her from view.
"Why is it always Empousa? Ruby, stay behind me." He focused his attention on the monster, the first one he had seen from back home. He really shouldn't have been so annoyed over it, but the time wasn't good right now. "Make your choice, I'm feeling generous right now. Can't promise I'll be feeling it in the next few minutes."