This battle will probably go on for a few more chapters: I really don't feel like making it all one giant chapter that's five times longer than all the other chapters.

Nico

Nico had heard a quote before that said that the end of the world came with a whimper, not a bang. He figured that it was a mortal who'd said that, because it was totally wrong. Lyssa definitely had a flair for the dramatic (fake blood, anyone?); she started off the day with a very, very, loud bang.

Nico usually had nightmares, but he didn't have any dreams at all that night. It would have reassured any other demigod, but it just made Nico paranoid and unable to sleep. (Well, that part was nothing new.) Half the night was spent tossing and turning, and thinking about the demigods at camp. Were they sending out search parties? Did the gods contact them? Did Calypso miss Leo? (Since when do you care, Nico?) Did Will Solace miss Nico? Okay, that was a surprising thought, coming from the Ghost King. But that wasn't the point at all.

Nico estimated that he'd finally fallen asleep at around four in the morning. So when the unnaturally loud bang sounded at five, when Apollo himself hadn't even risen yet, he was justified in running out of his cabin with his sword already unsheathed, messy bed-head, cursing like Arion, and trailing tangled bedsheets around his legs. Lyssa, however, was not justified in transporting him, pitch-black pajamas and all, to the training room. Did Nico mention that it was at five, and that he was not a morning person?

The others didn't look much better. They all wore pajamas (or their version of it…), and there were noticeable bags under Leo, Hazel, Annabeth, and Frank's eyes. Percy kept waking up with a start and then drifting back off to sleep, and Piper's eyes kept fluttering closed. Jason, meanwhile, looked slightly more rested, but he was tense, edgy, and apprehensive, glancing around every few seconds. Nico gripped his sword more tightly and kicked his bedsheets aside, where they disappeared with a popping sound. The blood from the day before was mostly gone, but bright red traces still remained, and discolored patches of the once-clean white walls were a constant reminder of the fights. Soon, it would be all over, whether for good, or for bad.

As tired as everyone was, when Lyssa spoke, everyone became alert and battle-ready. Nico couldn't help but feel a twinge of sadness that they were already so combat-hardened. Jason and Percy both grew very still. Thanks to Nico, they knew that they would be fighting in the final duel.

"Welcome to the arena, for the last time!" Lyssa greeted. No one made a sound, except for clenching their teeth (Jason, Annabeth, and Leo), fingering their weapons (Piper, Hazel, and Nico), or growling (Frank and Percy). "Our fighters this time will be Jason Grace and Percy Jackson!" the resigned, acquiescent expressions on their faces infuriated Nico to no end.

"You're going to fight," he growled at them. "And we're going to murder Lyssa." The fierceness in his tone surprised even Nico himself. And where had the pep talk come from? Lyssa will pay for what she's done, Nico silently vowed to himself. He began imagining ways he could punish the goddess. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts, he forgot that Lyssa was there too, listening.

"Aw, how sweet!" Nico gritted his teeth. "No matter; I suppose I can tell you my grand plan now. Might as well get a little bragging done, no? You see, I want to unite my Greek and Roman aspects…" It was all information they already knew, but put in the harsh words of Lyssa's smooth-as-honey voice, it sounded infinitely worse. Not only that, but she was so blasé about the entire situation. Nico did not enjoy others deciding on the method of his death in such a casual tone (not that he liked others discussing it at all), like they were wondering what they would eat for dinner. To top it all off, her thinly-veiled threats were just the right amount of indifference to be disconcerting, and just the right amount of glee to be slightly frightening, even to Nico.

"But what about your oath on the Styx? You said you wouldn't hurt my friends if we handed over our forms!" Percy cried out. Out of the corner of his eye, Nico saw Annabeth tremble slightly. Mentally, Nico cursed Percy's hero complex, not for the first time.

"No, hero," Only Lyssa could make that sound like the worst insult ever invented. "I said they would be safe. And unfortunately for you, I have a very different definition of 'safe' than you." Goosebumps rose along Nico's arms. Before, he had, perhaps foolishly, assumed that the other demigods would have at least some sort of protection due to the oath. But now? No. How much more brazen could the demented goddess get? Kidnapping some of the most powerful demigods in history? Using them to gain a throne of Olympus? Seeking a loophole through a promise made on the River Styx? "Enough dawdling! I intend for this last duel to be very entertaining indeed. And… well, I can only take one of your forms. This time, I won't step in when one of you kills the other. I want the stronger form. The winner shall be my host! The other shall, to put it in a polite phrase, be in the realm of Hades."

Nico had a strong stomach, but now, he was suddenly glad he didn't have breakfast, because at this point, it would be gone anyway.

The Furores wasted no time in charging Percy and Jason. Lyssa wasted no time in slamming everyone else against the wall. And the demigods wasted no time in starting their plan immediately. Nico caught Annabeth's eye. Wait, he mouthed to her. She raised an eyebrow in confusion, but she trusted him enough to nod.

Nico watched intently as the fight played out. There was already a pool of water surrounding Percy, and static electricity flickered around Jason. Both had their swords pulled out as well. Nico ignored his instinct to just break free of the bonds Lyssa put on him; he had to wait until Jason and Percy were making a big enough distraction. Suddenly, the Argo gave an unpleasant lurch. Waves crashed.

"Oh, so that's how you want to play it?" sneered Jason. His smoky eyes were gleaming coldly as he hefted up his sword.

"Bring it on," retorted the son of Poseidon, assuming a battle stance. And so Jason did, slashing and weaving lightly through his opponent's defenses. Percy blocked a blow to his head, and stabbed Jason's leg. Blood slowly pooled out. "Worthless Roman!" he growled as a whirlpool formed around him.

"Greek scum!" Jason shot back, floating in the air. Bolts of lightning crackled at the tip of his sword, illuminating his face eerily, and lighting up his already-golden colored hair. The sky darkened even more than it already was.

The sky and sea were fighting each other. Thunder boomed, and the ship lurched to one side. The sea roared in response, and the ship rocked to the other side. Hazel looked green. Smoke filled the room, making it slightly hard to see. Cold air currents whooshed around Jason; Percy sent a wave at Jason's sword, washing it away. Eyes glowing with fury, the son of Jupiter used the air to summon the weapon back into his hand, and the battle resumed.

It was the perfect time. Now! Nico mouthed to Annabeth. She gave him a tight, tense nod. Hazel glanced at both of them and understood immediately. She closed her eyes and concentrated. Nico waited.

Searing pain hit him, and suddenly his vision was split into two. On one side, he was still frozen, still bonded to the wall. But on the other, he was walking around with his blade out and ready. Nico shook his head, hard, and his vision refocused. He was free! But as he glanced over to the wall, he saw himself and the five other demigods still restrained. A terrifying grin escaped Nico, one that had sent many monsters running. Hazel's Mist manipulation will buy us some time to regroup.

Silently, Nico crept to the darkest corner of the room. Leo, in his Bob the Builder pajamas and wearing his tool belt (Nico stifled a smirk), shuffled over too. Piper and Hazel were on the opposite side of the room, whispering in hushed tones. Annabeth was fishing out a drachma from her pocket for Frank to send an Iris-message. Everyone was in position.

"Where's the netting?" Nico hissed at Leo more sharply than he intended. He would've preferred to work with someone else, and that came across in his tone. Inwardly, Nico winced, though his mask of calm gave nothing away. For a brief moment, there was an expression of genuine hurt on the son of Hephaestus' face. But that was quickly replaced by minor annoyance.

"In my tool belt!" Leo rolled his eyes. Nico nodded curtly, and watched as the Latino boy dug out a handful of what looked like a ball of golden string. But it was so much more—it was the same exact material and design as the net that Hephaestus had used to trap Ares and Aphrodite in eons ago. If it could hold two Olympians, one of them the god of war, it would hold a deranged goddess of fury. "Can you give me a team of, like, skeletons or something? It takes multiple people to unwind this," Leo asked quietly. Nico nodded again, his shoulders tense. Any moment now…

"ATTACK!" Annabeth screamed. Instantly, Hazel's Mist creations melted away, and the freed demigods were visible. There was a primal scream of outrage from Lyssa.

"How dare you?!" the demigods sprang into action, ignoring her.

Nico raised his arms and a wave of shadows and darkness escaped, trapping some of the Furores in their deadly embrace. Already he felt lightheaded, but he had to keep going. A dozen skeletal warriors wriggled out from a crack in the wall. He felt dizzy, and only just managed to steady himself. The sound of bones rattling echoed around the room, and black spirits emerged, wailing in agony. "ENGAGE WITH THE FURORES!" he commanded them, standing up straighter.

Vaguely, he saw Frank turning into a gigantic gorilla and charging at something, Piper screaming charmspeak commands, Hazel summoning heavy gems, Annabeth fighting an invisible Furor with only a bronze dagger, and Leo barking orders at a group of obedient skeletons to unravel the netting. But he was more focused on the giant shadow that materialized itself in front of him.

The last time he'd seen her, Lyssa was just slightly over eight feet tall. But now, Lyssa could easily be mistaken for a giant—one of the larger ones.

"What do you think you're doing, you devil spawn?" she shrieked, her sugar-sweet voice gone. Now, she was every bit as terrifying as Tartarus himself, only crazier. That thought made Nico smile, and he regained his confidence.

"Nothing much, just hanging out with my undead friends," he replied to her rhetorical question, trying to channel Percy's sass, Annabeth's sarcasm, Leo's cheekiness, and his own cold confidence. His attempt at pissing her off seemed to work, because her eyes glowed dangerously. "I mean, how lame are you? A giant shadow. Really, that's it? Come on, that's just pathetic!" he scoffed, folding his arms and trying to look bored and disinterested, though it was hard, resisting the urge to just jump up and stab Lyssa. He knew that would just get him killed, however.

Lyssa's eyes glowed brighter. And then, she changed. And Furor was completely terrifying.

The next chapter's POV I haven't decided on, but it will be through at least two different POVs. Any suggestions for the POV you want to see most? (No, it can't be Nico again.)

Next update: Sometime within the week, around Tuesday-Friday, I guess. Sorry if that's too vague for you, but I honestly don't know.