Flames threatened to rip the death off their bodies as they stood before the Doors of Death. Standing at the center of Tartarus' infernal heart, were a pair of elevator doors. The demigods thought they looked familiar until it dawned on them that these were perverse copies of the doors to Olympus set in the blood of the pit. Flanking the doors were two old foes to the heroes of the previous war. Hyperion and Krios stood together, greeting, and hazing Iapetus as the weakest of the brothers. Running into Koios early had been harrowing enough but standing before two Titans amidst an unholy mass of monsters was on another level entirely.
Still, the two steeled their nerves for one final push. They had been to Akhyls to die, ambushed by Nyx herself and her children, traversed her Mansion of the Night and made their way here while towing the line between life and death. The fog that had been blurring Percy's thoughts had returned as well, causing him to lash out at Akhyls, though Annabeth had calmed him. It was bearable now that Annabeth was watching him more carefully and with a new goal in mind. However, the fact that he could spiral out of control at any moment terrified him.
Even though, they had reconciled at Damasen's hut, such pain doesn't simply vanish. Dark thoughts and what-ifs raced through Percy's head every single second, try as he might to vanquish them. Having Annabeth and Bob by his side were the pillars of support he desperately needed right now and his promise with Reyna was the flag that stood just behind those elevator doors. Anxiety filled his gut thinking about seeing her again after all that happened in the pit, but he refocused on the task at hand as the conversation between Titans began to end.
Cut the chains. Twelve minutes. That's all they needed, simple. When the Titans drew their blades, however, it began to dawn on Percy that one of them needed to hold the button for twelve minutes. One had to stay. That was when the two guards were shredded like paper. A cold chill hit them in the dank pit as a primordial terror shook them to their core. To top it off, their misty, zombified disguise had been ripped off as well.
STINKING PIT. TITANS, LESSER BEINGS. IMPEFECT AND WEAK. A voice bellowed across the landscape. The air around them began to take shape as an eldritch horror began to manifest itself before them.
"Tartarus," Percy and Annabeth managed, shaking off the shock and horror.
This is but a fraction of my power taken shape. I have watched you little demigods and it has been entertaining. But no longer. Be honored as not even the Olympians were worthy of being killed by myself. Tartarus boasted.
Bob readied his spear, Percy Riptide, and Annabeth her drakon tooth blade. Even Small Bob transformed into a skeletal saber-tooth as the monster army began to move. Bob charged, his spear back to its former silver glory in hand as he did his best to fend off the giant apparition. The cat followed his lead as it wove around Tartarus' legs, biting and scratching at anything that moved.
Iapetus, weakest of them all and yet you stand? Tartarus asked annoyedly. I will eviscerate your soul in my armor for eternity! DESTROY THEM!
The command sent the monster army hurtling at Percy and Annabeth. Bob managed to keep a good chunk of them away while keeping Tartarus at bay, an impressive feat and made Percy appreciate that he never truly fought against Iapetus at his strongest. If the Titan had battled like this when they met, even with Nico and Thalia with him, victory may have been an impossibility.
"I am Bob," The Titan replied. "I choose to be more than Iapetus. You do not control me. I stand together with my friends."
Meanwhile, Percy and Annabeth cleaved through the horde. They fought side by side in perfect harmony. Years of training and quests together had refined their teamwork and they knew each other's moves inside and out. The two were like an unstoppable current of destruction as they flowed seamlessly together. Yet, for as many as they killed, their numbers would increase ten-fold. It was like trying to fight against a hydra whose heads grew back a hundred times over with a monster variety pack.
Soon, Percy could feel his strength waning and a brief glimpse at Annabeth showed him that she was feeling the same. Percy Jackson, why do you fight? Tartarus questioned. I know your heart, your darkness. You think you can escape? That you deserve anything? Look around you at these fools willing to throw down their lives for you, a defective mortal.
Percy's heart grew heavy, and his feet suddenly felt like they were filled with lead. "Percy, what are you doing?" Annabeth cried as she slew each new oncoming beast.
"It was you…" He muttered. "You were the one in my head."
But it was you who acted. Gaea and I simply brough the truth out from within you. Tartarus explained.
Once again, Percy felt as if he were drowning, the sounds of battle and Annabeth becoming nothing more than echoes in the background. Looking back, the monsters had achieved their goal, luring them away from the Doors of Death. Blood beat against his eardrums as anger and despair filled his gut. He felt like his legs were sinking into the fleshy ground below.
That was when the ground began to shake and a guttural, reptilian roar ran through the enemy ranks. Monsters flew every which way as they were plowed through by a giant riding atop the Maeonian Drake. Damasen flew into the battle laughing and swatting away Telekhines and Cyclopes like mosquitoes. He beelined towards his father, bashing in the back of his legs and bringing the elder being to the ground for a moment. Bob smiled back at him as Damasen rode past towards the Doors, stopping before Annabeth.
"Annabeth Chase, I took your advice. I chose myself a new fate," Damasen said before turning back to Tartarus. "Father, you wanted me to be more war-like? Perhaps I will start by destroying you!"
Damasen charged back in, the whole ordeal snapping Percy out of it as he looked at Annabeth. She smiled back and ran to him, lifting his body which he hadn't even realized had sunken into itself. "When did you—" he started.
"We talked a lot before you woke up," Annabeth explained. "He helped me to understand what might help you and I gave him some advice as well."
Percy smiled back at her; his despair now replaced with hope. Damasen had cleared away the larger group of monsters and all that remained were the ones guarding the Doors behind them. The scatted monsters left before them were still numerous and Percy knew exactly how to deal with them. His despair may have vanished, but his anger had not. He reached out beneath him and channeled every bit of rage into commanding the waters of the Underworld to rise up. He thought back to exploding the pipes in their escape from Camp Jupiter, just on a much larger, much more dangerous scale.
Streams of multicolored water and fire burst forth, showering the enemies in torment and pain. As the monsters dispersed, they moved towards a new target; a limping Bob as he retreated from his battle with Tartarus. Ichor ran down his silver body as his spear hung limply from his left arm. Small Bob circled protectively around him but looked about as worse for wear as a skeleton could.
"Bob, get down!" Percy commanded as he sent jets of water towards the encroaching force.
Bob did as he was told and ran towards Percy and Annabeth once he was in the clear. He was breathing heavily but was at least intact. Titans were resilient and though the cuts ran deep, they would heal given enough time. Unfortunately, time was a resource they had precious little of.
"Go, cut the chains and leave," Bob ordered. "I will hold the button."
Percy's eyes went wide. "Bob, no. You're in condition. There had to be another way."
"Percy," Annabeth said, grabbing his arm, eyes watery. "We have to."
"No!" Percy yelled desperately. "We can't just leave. Bob…the stars, the sky. If you stay, Tartarus…he'll end you. Permanently."
"You must friend," Bob said, putting his hand on Percy's shoulder. "It is your destiny to end Gaea's madness. Besides, Tartarus is right, we cannot defeat him, only buy time. Twelve minutes. I can give you that."
Annabeth hugged Bob before promising him. "Monsters are eternal. We'll remember you and Damasen as heroes. We'll tell our children and keep the story alive."
Percy also hugged Bob tightly. "You've given me so much more than that. You gave me a second chance. I'm sorry for everything. And thank you."
"I guess we are even then," Bob said sadly, smiling down. "You gave Iapetus, gave me a second chance. Gave me friends. Thank you. Both of you"
Their eyes all blurry, they ran for the elevator doors, cutting the chains as they got in. Monsters, stop them! Tartarus bellowed.
"Hold the Doors closed," Bob advised. "They will resist your passage. Hold them—"
If falling to Tartarus felt like an eternity, holding the Doors closed was so much worse. Both had taken turns holding up the sky and while it was excruciating while it lasted, it had only been for a short time. Keeping the Doors shut was like stretching that pain out over an infinitely long time. Every muscle and nerve screamed to stop as they waited for twelve minutes to pass.
"Together," Annabeth said, her voice straining.
"Together," Percy replied, nodding.
It was all he had to focus on besides the pain in his body and from losing Bob and Damasen back in the Underworld. His breathing was becoming ragged as the seconds ticked away and he could swear his life was flashing before his eyes. Images of New York, his mom, Paul, Long Island, camp, Grover, Luke, Thalia, the other seven, Reyna. Finally, the Doors binged open as he lost consciousness and tumbled out onto the ground.
When he awoke, he wondered for a brief second if he had ever left. A giant towered over him and Annabeth. He was shrouded in a robe of shadows and had feet like those of a lizard. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Still, the taste of his mother's cooking meant that someone had fed him ambrosia and that there were friends nearby. He began to stand slowly, realizing there was an all-out fight happening. Flames, blades, wind, and shadow all assaulting the beast as Hecate watched on like a venomous snake, waiting for her time to strike.
Annabeth was already awake and ready for battle, Percy groggily drawing his blade as well. Thankfully, Hazel and the others seemed to have everything under control as Hecate lit Clytius aflame with her torches before quickly leaving without a shred of gratitude and a warning to make their way to Athens. His shoulders relaxed and he breathed a sigh of relief before he and Annabeth were jumped on by the other demigods.
"Dude," Was all Jason could say as he embraced Percy, the latter nearly disappearing in his arms.
Piper ran up and hugged Annabeth, crying the whole time while Hazel tended to Frank's pierced arm. The reverie was short-lived as the whole place began to collapse. With Hazel's help, Nico was able to shadow-travel all of them out to safety. Back in daylight, Percy felt a quick jolt as he realized Nico had swiftly torn his hand away from Percy. Leo also promptly collapsed, looking dazed as Frank caught them up on everything that had happened in the House of Hades. As he did so, Percy wasn't sure if it was his eyes or the ADHD, but he couldn't help but focus on just how different Frank looked since he had last seen him.
"Frank is being modest," Jason said. "He commanded the whole legion. Oh, by the way…I resigned my office, gave Frank a field promotion to praetor, unless you want to contest."
Jason glanced at Percy, but Percy grinned. "No argument here."
"Praetor?" Hazel asked dumbfounded before kissing Frank and nearly breaking his ribs in the process.
"Way to go Zhang," Leo said, back to normal now. "Now you can order Octavian to fall on his sword."
"Tempting," Frank agreed, Percy and Jason both nodding furiously. "But you guys… Tartarus. What happened? How did you…?"
"Frank, let's save that for another time, okay?" Annabeth interjected. "Promise."
"Thank you," Percy whispered to her.
"My boy is here!" Leo suddenly exclaimed, the Argo II beginning to set down over them.
"About time!" Coach Hedge yelled back. "What took you so long cupcakes? You kept your visitor waiting!"
Percy's breath caught as he stared up at the rails. The dark-haired girl in purple, covered in blood and scratches looked back down at him and smiled. Annabeth gave him a knowing look and a pat on the back. "You did it," She whispered. "You made it back."