Percy POV
As soon as those words left my mouth, I didn't wait for Gone to respond. It wasn't like he would've anyway; the poor man was rooted to his spot in shock. With my staff out, I charged straight into battle, head held high, knowing Nico was right behind me. As I did, the battlefield blurred around me. My focus was solely on the figure in front of me, the one responsible for so much pain and destruction. I could hear the gasps and whispers from my family as I passed them. Shocked faces turned to look at me, and I saw expressions ranging from disbelief to hope.
"Percy!" Calypso yelled in delight as I passed her.
"My son!" Poseidon declared proudly, watching me charge forwards.
I fought my way through a few monsters, my staff swinging with deadly precision. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions – anger, determination, and a burning desire for justice. Each strike felt like an extension of my resolve, a way to show Gone that he couldn't break me. From behind, three Itegra leaped at me. I spun around just in time to parry their claws with my staff. The force of their attack sent a jolt of pain up my arms, but I gritted my teeth and pushed back, refusing to let them overwhelm me. My movements were a blur as I engaged in a deadly dance with the Itegra. They were fast and agile, their dark forms blending into the shadows of the battlefield.
But I was faster.
With each swing of my staff, I aimed for their weak points, aiming to disarm and incapacitate them. One of the Itegra lunged at me with its razor-sharp teeth, and I narrowly avoided its bite. I countered with a quick jab to its side, sending it sprawling to the ground. The other two attacked simultaneously, but I managed to sidestep their claws and delivered a powerful blow to one of their heads, knocking it out cold. The remaining Itegra growled, its eyes burning with rage. It lunged again, but oh, these monsters never seemed to learn that they can't defeat me. With a surge of adrenaline, I ducked, driving my staff into the Itegra's side, sending it crashing into a nearby boulder. As the Itegra staggered to its feet, I knew I couldn't afford to let my guard down. I needed to end this quickly before it had a chance to recover. Summoning all my strength, I launched a series of rapid strikes at the Itegra, each one hitting with deadly accuracy. Its claws and teeth swiped at me, but I managed to dodge and counter with precise movements. I could feel my muscles burning with exertion, but I pushed through, determined to defeat the creature.
Finally, with a well-aimed strike to its chest, I managed to knock the Itegra off its feet. It let out a final, guttural roar before collapsing to the ground, defeated. Most people would do a victory dance, sighing in relief, but not me. I was on a mission, and I would not rest until Gone was deep, deep down, deeper than the depths of Tartarus.
Ignoring the chaos around me, I sprinted towards Gone, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. I had to confront him, to put an end to his twisted plan and avenge the deaths he had caused.
Gone didn't seem to be hiding from me. Instead, he was waiting at the back of the battlefield, watching me with curiosity and anticipation. My element of surprise seemed to have ended, and now it would all be down to my skills. As I approached him, Gone turned to face me, his mask hiding any emotion that might be lurking beneath.
"Well, well, well, look who's still standing," he sneered. "I must admit, I didn't expect you to be back here at all."
"I'm not here to exchange pleasantries," I retorted, my grip on my staff tightening. "You tried to kill me, you tried to destroy Olympus, and for that, you will pay." Gone chuckled darkly.
"Ah, yes, it's a shame you've survived my game so far, but you know what they say - survival of the fittest… And now it's you and me." My blood boiled at his callous words. I couldn't let him get under my skin. I had to stay focused.
"You may have tricked us once, but I won't be so easily deceived," I declared. "Your reign of terror ends here." Gone's eyes glinted with amusement.
"Oh, do you think you can defeat me, little god? I am more powerful than you could ever imagine."
"I don't need to imagine," I replied, my voice steady. "I've faced gods and monsters before, and I've come out on top. I won't let you destroy everything I hold dear." Gone chuckled again, his arrogance seemingly boundless.
"You're nothing, Perseus. You couldn't keep your friend safe. You couldn't even keep your love safe, and yet still you dare to challenge me, a force far stronger than you could even wish you were. It's laughable, really." I took a step closer, my determination unwavering.
"Enough is enough, Gone. I've had enough of your games and your lies. It's time for this to end." Gone chuckled madly.
"And what do you plan to do?" he sighed, feigning boredom and tiredness.
"I plan to stop you," I declared, a wild grin on my face. "Once and for all."
Nico POV
"Well are you going to fight or what?" I said to the group of gods, hunters and campers. "Stop gawking and let's eradicate this threat once and for all!" Flustered, the gods all turned their attention back to the battle, and we continued to press forwards.
"Olympians!" Zeus roared. "This time, nothing stands in our way! Let us fight for our lives, and for the future of Olympus!" A renowned cheer ran through the battlefield as we began to fight more vigorously, determined to win once and for all.
Amidst the chaos, I was briefly reunited with my friends. Thalia, Piper, Leo, and others rushed towards me, their faces a mix of joy and relief.
"Nico, you're alive!" Piper exclaimed, throwing her arms around me.
"Yeah, well, I wouldn't miss a party like this," I joked, trying to lighten the mood. It wasn't easy, though, knowing that we were facing such a formidable enemy. Thalia clapped me on the back, a smile on her face.
"Glad to have you back, man. We were worried." I nodded gratefully.
"Thanks. But there's no time to waste. We have to keep fighting." My fellow members of the Revenant nodded, before charging back into battle. They fought with power, skill, and speed, never letting their enemies rest until they were a pile of dust.
Just as I was about to join the fray once more, I reunited with yet another god. Artemis appeared before me, her eyes shining with emotion.
"Nico, thank the gods you're safe," she said, her voice filled with genuine relief.
"I'm fine," I replied, not wanting to draw too much attention to myself. "But we need to focus on the battle." Artemis nodded, her gaze drifting towards Percy who was still locked in combat with Gone.
"Yes, of course. But Nico, I can't thank you enough for what you did for Percy." I was taken aback by her gratitude. It seemed even goddesses were capable of change. Artemis was a testament to that.
"It wasn't just me," I started to say, but before I could explain further, Artemis cut me off.
"No, Nico, you don't understand. I know you're modest, but take credit every once in a while for the things you've done. Without you, Percy wouldn't be here, and the entirety of Olympus would yet again be screwed.." I blinked in surprise.
"I didn't do much," I muttered, feeling slightly awkward under her intense gaze. Artemis placed a hand on my shoulder, her expression softening.
"You did more than you realise. You brought hope back to us, to Olympus, and that means a lot to all of us." I was debating whether or not to tell her the true story about Eris, but decided against it. At the moment, it would only raise more questions than give answers. I swallowed hard.
"Well, I'm just glad he's okay," I managed to say, "but don't screw this up now, Artemis." The moon goddess frowned deeply.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, let's just say it doesn't take a genius to tell that you like him, and you've ruined it before. All I'm saying is don't ruin it this time, and treat Percy how he deserves to be treated." The moon goddess nodded, before running straight into battle, slicing an Itegra as she did.
Now, it was all in Percy's hands. Could he rise to the challenge and finally defeat Gone, bringing peace back to Olympus?
Percy POV
My heart pounded in my chest as I faced off against Gone, my golden staff gleaming in the flickering light of battle. The weight of the staff in my hands was both familiar and comforting, a reminder of the countless battles I had fought before. But this battle was different. This battle was personal.
Gone's dark eyes bore into mine from behind his sinister mask, a mask that seemed to mock me, daring me to try to defeat him. I knew I couldn't afford to be reckless, not with so much at stake. I had to be patient, wait for the right moment to strike.
So far, the fight had been pretty even, with none of us sustaining any injuries. However, my arms were beginning to ache, having still not fully recovered from the previous battle against him. He struck again, his sword slicing through the air with deadly precision. I managed to block his attack just in time, the force of the blow sending a jolt of pain up my arm. I gritted my teeth, pushing back the pain and focusing on the task at hand.
For a moment, it seemed like the fight was going to end in a draw, our weapons clashing with a deafening noise. However, slowly, I began to feel the strain of the battle, the exhaustion starting to take its toll. Gone, on the other hand, seemed relentless, his attacks growing more ferocious with each passing moment. I found myself on the defensive, my movements becoming slower and less precise. Gone took advantage of my momentary weakness, landing a powerful blow that sent me staggering backward. I felt the impact reverberate through my entire body, my breath coming in ragged gasps.
"You're not as strong as you think," Gone taunted, a wicked smile on his lips. "You're nothing but a puny, worthless, being, and people like you are so easily broken." His words stung, but I refused to let them break my resolve. I had faced gods and monsters before, and I had come out on top. I wouldn't let Gone's taunts get to me.
With a deep breath, I steadied myself, focusing on the power within me. I drew upon the strength of the sea, feeling its energy surge through my veins. With a newfound sense of determination, I launched a counterattack, my staff swinging with deadly precision. Gone seemed surprised by my sudden burst of energy, his eyes narrowing in frustration. He defended himself, but I could sense his confidence waver. I saw an opportunity and struck, aiming for a weak spot in his defences. My blow landed true, and for a moment, it seemed like I might actually win, but Gone wasn't one to be easily defeated. With a roar of anger, he retaliated, his sword slashing through the air with a speed that left me little time to react. I managed to block his attack, but just barely. The force of it sent me stumbling backward, my muscles screaming in protest. Gone laughed, his voice filled with malice.
"You're weak, Percy. You'll never be able to defeat me." However, I was barely listening to what he said, pushing back the pain and the doubt that threatened to consume me. I focused on my training, on the lessons I had learned throughout all my experiences.
With a renewed sense of determination, I charged back into the fight, my staff swinging with a deadly grace. Gone defended himself, but I could see the weariness in his eyes. He was tiring, just as I was. As we continued to battle, I could feel the energy of the other gods and demigods surrounding us, their support and encouragement fueling my determination. I wasn't alone in this fight. We were all in this together. For a moment, it seemed like the battle could go either way. We were both skilled fighters, each determined to come out on top. But then, just as I was starting to lose hope, I saw an opening. Gone's defences slipped for a fraction of a second, and I seized the opportunity. With all the strength and power I could muster, I swung my staff with all my might, aiming straight for his chest.
The blow landed true, and I felt the impact reverberate through my entire body. Gone stumbled backward, his mask slipping slightly to reveal a look of disbelief and rage. I didn't waste any time. I launched a final strike, hitting him square in the chest again. Gone's eyes widened in shock as he fell to the floor, his pitch-black sword clattering away from him.
In that moment, I felt a surge of triumph and relief. I had done it. I had defeated Gone. As I stood there, victorious but still reeling from the intensity of the battle, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me in a tight embrace. Looking up, I saw Artemis, her eyes shining with tears of relief and joy.
"Percy," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'm so glad you're alive." I returned the hug, grateful for her support. It was a rare moment of vulnerability for Artemis, and it touched me deeply. Despite everything that had happened, she had cared for me, and I could see the genuine happiness in her eyes.
However, Poseidon looked ready to intervene. His eyes blazed with anger, and I knew he didn't want Artemis this close to stepped forward.
"Peace, brother," he said calmly. "Let Perseus decide what he wants." Poseidon hesitated but eventually nodded, letting the matter rest for the moment. I appreciated Zeus's intervention; I didn't need more tension now. I turned back to Artemis, and though I was touched by her affection, I knew there were more pressing matters at hand.
"I'm glad to be alive too," I said with a small smile. "But right now, all I want to know is who Gone really is, under that mask." Artemis nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. "We don't know much about him," she admitted. "In fact, we've never heard the name before he came, wreaking havoc upon Olympus." Well, that was about to change, I thought to myself.
Bending down, I reached for Gone's mask, my curiosity getting the better of me. With a swift motion, I ripped the mask off, hoping to find some answers. At first, I saw only darkness, as if the mask contained nothing at all, but then, slowly, Gone's form began to change. His features shifted, and in an instant, the darkness transformed into something I could scarcely believe. I watched through my own eyes as his skin whitened, and long, curly, blonde hair began to form. The person in front of me was no longer Gone, but someone I never thought I'd see in my life, and frankly, didn't want to see in my life.
"Annabeth?" I whispered, my voice filled with shock and confusion.
And boom! The grand reveal! Much more will be explained in the next chapter, but I guess we now know who Gone is (or do we?) Defo let me know if you liked the chapter! Also, huge shoutout to Guestuser1024 for being the first person to comment on a chapter since chapter 50! I thought no one was reading it on fanfiction lol, but thanks so much!