It seemed Octavian wasn't the only one who had returned, for Mr.D was with them too. They were fairly certain it was to ensure that Octavian wouldn't be killed on spot, but they were glad for the divine 'assistance' nonetheless. None of them quite understood how it as that Octavian still stood with them thoigh he had blasted himself off an onager. It was a Herculean feat for Leo to have survived his explosion, and even he had used the Physician's Cure.

To Percy, especially, it seemed so unfair that if all people, Octavian would be the one who got his second chance. So many more had died, so many for whom he blamed himself, and yet, it was the war-mongering Roman who lived. He would have, perhaps, argued about it, but the fight was out of him. What more did he have to fight for? His mortal family? They'd probably be safer than ever when he was gone.

He would join the two of them on the quest, for now, and then give up his questing for good. He'd get as far off from the camp life as possible. Maybe near Alaska. That would wait a little longer while he pieced together the puzzle of Annabeth's mysterious disappearance. Even as they prepared to leave, Mr.D was there to give them their parting speech. He said something about the need for demigods to prove their competence, and a lot more that made as much sense as the gods usually did, but the campers just weren't in the mood for it, and as some noticed, neither was Mr.D himself. It was more forced than ever.

Once it was all done, Mr. D adressed Octavian after ignoring him during the entirety of his speech.

"Ogre Orangutan, it has been some time since you visited Camp."

"AUGUR OCTAVIAN!" he replied indignantly.

"Whatever Octagun."

"IT'S OCTAVIAN!""Whichever.""Stupid Graecus""What was that Octopus?""Nothing" he grumbled.

"I thought as much."

With that said, the unseemly trio moved out. Neither of them were much into it. Reyna was still trying to digest the fact that she would be visiting the Underworld, even more so that all it's aspects would be very much Greek. Percy strode ahead with a single purpouse in mind while Octavian kept grumbling about how unfair it was that his punishment seemed to be spending an entirety with the very graecus he resented with a passion. It was a sombre journey. Had Leo joined them, there might have been a lighter atmosphere encasing them, though they had all decided that he would be most useful back at Camp. They were all running short of weapons and off anybody could make so many on such short notice, it was Leo Valdez.

Nico had left on his own to seek his own answers and he had been joined by Hazel and Frank. It had been decoded that it was better for the two of them to stay close to each other and keep the other out of trouble. Will, Jason and Piper had gone too. All teams would inevitably rezvendous after their task in the Underworld had been completed. They wouldn't stay long as a safety measure, but vital information would be exchanged before they proceeded any further. Chiron had gone against protocol and sent multiple groups of three, each with a part to play on the quest. He claimed that dire situations called for desperate measures.

It was quite a long yet uneventful journey. They hadn't been met with any monsters along the way, and the humans weren't too much of a bother. The last time he had tried to venture this way, they'd had the help of a satyr to prose the rock open. They would have to go another way this time. Thankfully,it wasn't much of a problem with Octavian around, and they went ahead unhindered. There was no small talk either. Neither if them got on particularly well, and it was best they kept to themselves rather than fighting each other. The deathly vibes from the lands around them did not help make the atmosphere any less depressing,though it didn't seem to bother Octavian at all, though he wisely said nothing about it.

The closer they went to the Underworld, the more memories ravaged Percy. He had been there before. Multiple times, actually. So many times that it quite surprised everyone that he had still managed to walk out alive. This time, there was none of the North that went hand in hand with any journey. Annabeth wasn't there anymore, and might never be ever again.

"How many more times?"

It was a statement filled with grief, and a bit of guilt too. He had been there before. He had seen the souls of the dead. This time, his Wise Girl would probably be one of them, and he didn't know if he could hold himself together if he saw her like that. He had once promised Annabeth that he would never leave her again. What we it but cruel fate to have led them so that she left him instead? Thanatos had promised him once that they would meet again but under much worse conditions. Percy wondered how that could ever be possible, for now he could only await the time to find her once more, be it in Camp or at Elysium.

Reyna wasted no time in questioning Octavian though. He had essentially committed treason against New Rome, and she would have to decide swiftly as to where his allegiance was.

"Why are you here Octavian?"

"Simple. I told you already. They decided the only crime I commited was to see the downfall of the Greeks,because I loved Rome more. As punishment, I would spend a long while helping the very Greeks I wanted to destroy before they came back for me."

Just then, the two of them noticed Percy stop, and they did too, wondering why.

"We are here. Welcome to Hades, also known as the Underworld. It's time to get our answers. Let's be done with it."