Board Thread:Antaeus' Arena: Audience Chamber/@comment-25184334-20140616200208/@comment-24996281-20140616200949

Is round one finished? I just weighed in over there today. Well, maybe I should cut and paste (even though it's not entirely relevant anymore because now Riptide and the Tool Belt come into play):

1) Umm, have any of you actually ever been to New York?  It's teeming with water.  It's right on the ocean - surrounded by it in fact, and the huge Hudson River flows right through it, as well as the East River.  (Remember the Hurricane/Super Storm Sandy photos? All that water didn't just come from rain).  There are also a multitude of flowing fountains in NYC - he could easily put those to use. Not to mention it's one of the most populous cities in the world with miles and miles of water pipes winding right beneath every sidewalk in the city.  Percy would have no trouble summoning water.  He managed to summon water out of the bowels of Mt. St. Helen's, he can summon water in New York, no problem. No question he would beat Leo - he's more experienced, he's more powerful (according to Nico the most powerful demi-god he's ever seen), and, despite his relaxed outward appearance - he's meaner than Leo (ever since The Lightening Thief - he's been described as a "hot head").

2)  The biggest evidence Percy would win - the battle against Hyperion in Central Park (The Last Olympian).  Percy turned into a hurricane that doused Hyperion's fire power long enough for him to be overtaken.  If he can do that against Hyperion, he can do it against Leo.  And, as we've found out in the last couple of books, he can do more than just control straight water.

So those points, added with Percy's use of his sword - I don't think Leo would beat him. Percy is a skilled swordsman at this point. The tool belt can come up with tricks, but Percy can defeat entire armies (ghost, undead, etc.) with his sword, so, I think Leo wouldn't be much of an obstacle. He has a fighter's instincts, physique and athletic skills.