[3rd Person's Pov]
A black Audi RS7 was stuck in New York City's traffic.
In the driver's seat, is a man with albino white skin and oily hair. He wore a black suit and ten rings around his fingers, each of them having different jewels of the earth embedded.
In the shotgun seat, a gorgeous woman was sitting with a grumpy expression. Her skin was equally pale to the driver, if not slightly more lively. Her dress was a pale grey mixed in with green, the color of frost on the grass.
"Can't this thing go any faster?!" The passenger complained.
The driver suppressed a groan. His pale hands gripped the tilter tightly. "Persephone, dear. I've already said it a million times. I cannot shadow-drive through cars without causing a string of involuntary heart attacks for mortals."
"I know that," The Queen of the Underworld snapped back, impatiently tapping on her side of the windowsill.
Suddenly, something smacked against the passenger seat. Persephone frowned and rolled down the window to find a pack of hooligans in a rumbling halt at the next lane.
"Going out on a drive, ya old geezer? Can you even see through traffic?" A teenage driver shouted, followed by several jeering and a blast of an air horn.
Hades couldn't be bothered less by those Mortals. It was hard to be offended by anyone when you could see when they were going to die—which wasn't too far from now.
On the other hand, Persephone's frown deepened considerably at the blatant insult toward her husband, which didn't go unnoticed by the ignorant gang.
"Oh my god, look at that saggy skin on the granny!" One of the female youngsters shouted from the back seat. "I bet she doesn't even go out for sunbathing!"
"Well, they got that right," Persephone muttered as we waved her hand.
With a loud poof, the car turned into a patch of Tulips and Daffodils alongside its occupants. Passerby gasped and screamed in terror. Car horns started honking madly.
"Honey..." Hades started, but Persephone waved her hand nonchalantly.
"They are not dead, nor will they remember when it wears off. I'll have one of my servants take care of the dirty work—"
Then, the goddess let out an exaggerated gasp and covered her mouth.
"Oh no! My best servant Hecate won't be able to help me out because she is currently up for a trial! We'd better hurry to the council!"
Hades grumbled between his teeth and swept his hand at the small garden. A thick grey Mist settled over the entire street, and the small panic around the street quickly subsided.
After that small fiasco, the two gods were stuck in traffic for another half an hour; maybe advancing a block or two in distance.
Finally, Persephone's patients were out of due. "Dear, why don't we just fly up there?"
"Because there are protective measures 24/7 after Bellerophontes tried to ride up to Olympus. And Zeus would take any excuse to try and strike me down at any moment."
Persephone scowled with her arms crossed. The quarrel between her husband and Zeus was a famous tale, but the goddess sincerely doubted her father would strike her down.
"It's because you like driving a car. You can drive it in the garden, you know."
"No! It's not the same as—"
Persephone had her eyes slit open. The Lord of the Dead sighed, swallowed his outburst, took a deep breath, and flicked a switch under the steering wheel.
The Audi started to morph in shape. The back seats dissolved into darkness as the front rows shifted into a double-wheeled chariot. From the shadows, two pegasi made out of bones flew up in reins and Hades attached them to the front of the chariot.
"Hades!" Persephone flung her arms around the pale neck. Hades only sighed again, although with a smile this time, and slipped an arm around her waist.
"Yes, yes. Now hold on tight. The last time you fell, we had to make up a plant in memorial of the nymph...what was her name again?"
"Menthe. She is doing well though. A very great handmaiden."
Hades nodded and lashed out the reins. The twin skeletal pegasi reared up on their hind legs and kicked off the asphalt to soar up into the night sky.
Persephone whooped and cheered as they went high up into the sky, where the air was relatively clearer.
Not many people or gods knew that Persephone was fond of flying; Hades took pride in that he was one of the few who had the knowledge.
Either way, any good husband would find it nice to see his wife in such a state of joy.
"At times like this, I am reminded that you're a daughter of Zeus."
Persephone turned back with a rather mischievous smile. "Strange thing to bring up now, Daddy Uncle."
"Stop." Hades groaned, a tinge of gold blush appearing over his neck. Persephone stifled a giggle at the apparent embarrassment of her fiancé.
The skeleton chariot flew across the skyline of Manhattan in seconds before landing at the open parking lot near the Empire State Building.
"See? Much faster."
"Enough already."
Hades parked the chariot in an empty space, which returned to Audi, and the couple walked into the Empire State Building.
Now that they were near Olympus, the Lord of the Dead tried to maintain his usual image—stern, cold-hearted, etc.
But it was a much more daunting task than it sounded when his wife was right next to him with their arms linked together and was tugging along to walk faster.
He'd have been genuinely mad if it wasn't quite adorable to watch Persephone try her best to haul him along until she finally gave up.
Hades stopped in front of the security desk. The guard was sagging on his chair, dully reading a magazine named [Pandora Scoop].
"600th floor."
"There's no such place, sir." The guard said in a monotone. Hades cleared his throat once. The guard looked up with a mild annoyance, only to turn pale as a white rat and nearly fall over his chair.
"As I've said, 600th floor."
"Um, ah, sorry for the—" The guard fumbled around his pockets until he remembered where it was. "The keycard is already taken, sir—and madam. I'm sure you could catch the ride if you hurry."
"Very well." Hades snapped a shining ruby into existence on the security table. Then he and his wife leisurely made their way to the back of the elevator.
"Say, I've always wondered; who is that security guard?"
"Bellerophontes."
"Oh."
Persephone looked back at the security guard, who was observing the ruby with fascination.
'What an ironical punishment.' The goddess of the dead couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for the once-famed hero.
"That's a bit harsh, isn't it?"
Hades didn't share her sympathy. "Talk to Zeus about it. I'm sure he'll be happy to find his judgment being challenged."
Persephone rolled her eyes, though she did agree that her father won't take too kindly to being challenged. People in power could be cumbersome like that; a trait that, thankfully, her husband didn't possess.
"...Hades, my skin is not saggy, is it?"
"Not that I would think any less of you if it did, no. It isn't."
"Aww." Persephone snuggled up closer to her husband as they arrived at the back elevator.
It was vacant, as it had just enough Mist around to drive away any mortals who might wander nearby. The number on the dial was up to 232.
"I think we missed it," Persephone muttered.
Hades tightened the grip around Persephone's waist, and they slipped into the shadows through the elevator gate.
After one shadow travel later, they appeared in the rising elevator. The two occupants barely reacted to the sudden guests as if they had expected it prior.
One was a hulking muscle man wearing a leather bike jacket and combat boots. His trademark sunglasses were missing, and he held a golden chain in his hand.
The chains led to the prisoner held by the war god himself; the goddess of magic and Mist, Hecate.
"Ares." Hades nodded to the man.
Ares nodded back. "Good to see you too, Hades."
The two gods were on good terms since the younger one started existing, as war and death was naturally close subject.
Even after the fiasco two years ago, when the war god nearly caused World War III, Hades was more than willing to forgive Ares after his helm was returned; unlike most of his Olympian brethren.
On the other hand, Persephone was more worried about her assistant.
"Hecate!"
Persephone's cold attire as the goddess of the Underworld quickly changed to a more floral, warm tone as she rushed over to her long-time friend.
Hecate raised her head, letting the hood of her dark robe fall behind to reveal her long, curly garnet hair and contrastingly pale skin.
"My Lady. I am remorseful for meeting you at such a state." Hecate pulled a small smile. The effects of the gold chain were straining her a lot, which didn't go unnoticed.
"You don't have to apologize for anything," Persephone shortly grasped Hecate's hand, before looking over her shoulder to Ares.
"Can't you at least unbind the chains?"
"No," Ares said bluntly.
"Why not?" Persephone demanded. The tip of her hair stood on end like a threatening mother porcupine.
Of course, Ares wasn't intimated. Well, not much. "Because she is a prisoner." He clanked the chains slightly to drive his point, "And I can't afford another mistake after...the last time."
"I understand that you're distressed, but we are not going to make a fuss in the bridge of Olympus," Hades added, and while the goddess struggled to reason with her husband, Hecate heavily opened her mouth.
"With all due respect, my fate is not up for a single goddess to decide, My lady. The Olympians will bring judgment, whether it is just or not."
"But..." Persephone's words were cut short by a pleasant 'ding'! The elevator had reached its destination.
The golden doors opened sideways to reveal the dazzling white and silver city, the prime city of the Gods; Olympus.
"Too shiny," Hades grunted with his eyes scrunched from all the reflected lights. "Could use some darker shades."
Ares snorted. "Yeah, good luck convincing the owl chick with that proposal." And he stepped out of the elevator with Hecate getting hauled along next by him.
Persephone tried to follow them, but she was quickly surrounded by several nature spirits and minor gods and goddesses relegated to spring and flowers.
Hades, knowing that his presence won't be welcomed amongst those types, silently sulked to the edge of the cloud that supported the city.
"..."
He glanced down to the mortal world below.
From here, it was possible to see wherever on the earth—an assessment that was meant for the gods to keep an eye out in case of any troubles arising in secret.
But Hades knew how it was usually used. It was to scout out for a suitable mortal to have children with. The unending population of demigod souls that winds up in his domain was more than enough proof of it.
Of course, he didn't have any interest in getting a mortal mate. Not in a million years has he ever thought of cheating...except the one time, which went horribly, horribly wrong.
But there was something concerning on the mortal plane that grabbed his attention.
A very much upset Thanatos had barged into his palace just before he was about to travel to Olympus.
"It's Sisyphus all over again, My Lord! The cheater has to be brought to the justice of the Underworld!"
"...No beings should escape death. Not even the greatest man. That is their fate."
He glance over to the Pantheon of the Twelve Olympians, where their annual council meeting would take in less than an hour so.
At the hem of the mosque, he counted 10 chariots parked in a disorganized fashion. One missing would belong to Ares. And the other must belong to the goddess that went missing.
Normally, he'd agree more than anyone that no being should cheat death—it was one of the pillars that sustained the natural order, and it must be upheld by any means.
However, Hades could tell that, as justified as Thanatos's anger was, his divine senses were getting dull. The god of Death has been relying on his tablet just a bit too much.
There was something—or someone playing a much larger game of chess. The obsidian eyes twinkled in reflection of the full moon.
"This annual meeting won't be as dull as I hoped..."
[Line Break]
[David's Pov]
Finding my way up the mountain was much easier than I'd braced for.
Part of it was thanks to picking up the basics of tracking way back in the Junkyard, and partly because the army didn't give too much concern in obscuring their path.
Speaking of, this army was huge. There were footprints as long as my whole arm, and the leaves on trees were severely ruffled as if dozens of wings flapped past them.
I'd estimate at least a hundred troops, which was...a lot.
Honestly, I wasn't too concerned about them. A hundred army of monsters was still much less intimidating in concept compared to Ladon—if each of his heads snapped up one monster, that would be the end of that army.
I guess you could say Ladon officially broke my sense of fear. Call it a bluff, but I think nothing can discourage me any longer.
Still, that was no reason to lounge back. For all I know, Zoë and Reyna may be fighting Atlas for their life right now.
From far away, I could see lights flickering ahead. Soon, it turned out to be the fires lighting up the area of the boot camp.
A pair of guards were scouting around with Hellhounds kept on a tight leash sniffing the ground.
"This is stupid." One of the guards grunted. His voice suggested that the dude was drunker than Mr. D. "There aren't any signs of additional intruders here, either."
The other guard grunted in frustration. "Shut up! We already let two scoundrels wiggle their way into the boot camp. Any more blunders and we'd lose our heads."
The first guard scoffed. "Yeah, right. As if Chris Rodriguez would have the balls to do that. The schmuck is being all high and mighty because Luke remembers him."
"No, Alphric; it's because he is devoted to the fall of Olympus, unlike your lazy ass. I heard you wore nice underwear tonight."
Whatever that meant, it touched the first guard's core nerves. He growled like a Hellhound and drew his sword, only for the second guard to follow suit.
Watching a sword fight would always be a nice source of entertainment, but now was not the time to be entertained. I snuck around the edge of the forest as the Hellhounds barked loudly in midst of clashing weapons.
Let two scoundrels wiggle their way into the boot camp, one of the guards said.
That would be Zoë and Reyna, logically thinking. And if I were to bet on it, I'd say they weren't captured by the army, which would mean they made it through.
However, for a life of my own, I can't figure out how they managed it.
The entire boot camp was severely guarded; not just by humans, but also by many monsters, most of them with keen senses that were hardly hindered by the night.
The only backway would be to climb up the side of the cliff by the ocean, but that was insane. No one would be able to climb the entire way up; not that I was good at scaling walls, to begin with.
"...alright, crazy idea time."
I wasn't going to sit duck because I can't sneak through. By the wise word from my siblings from Cabin 5, no problem is without a solution.
Because you can always brute force your way through.
I stepped out of the woods. The guards faltered and then raised their pikes only to get pushed aside by a 10ft tall giant wearing nothing but a dirty loincloth.
"Who're you!?" The giant roared, hefting a thick wooden club over his shoulder.
I wished I said something smart and witty. Not a lot of people realize it, but outwitting your enemies with words was one of the many attributes of a hero in Ancient Greece. There was a reason why every hero had to learn poetry and philosophy.
Sadly, my woefully uneducated brain gave me nothing to work with. So I just pressed my key.
Fhooom!!!
The two guards gasped in surprise as a roar of flames shot up into the sky.
I leaped onto my trusted bike—seriously, best gift ever. With both wheels bursting into flames, the engine roared to life.
"He's trying to break through!"
"Rraagh!!!"
The giant charged forward and swung his club like swiping across the ground. Sadly, my bike was much faster than his grimy legs.
Just before the club swung to bat us into orbit, I drove up at top speed and smacked the giant on the nose with the front bike.
With a nasty crunch, the greasy nose caved in under the weight of the bike. The giant fell on his back, and he roared in pain and anger as I drove through the gateway.
"Sorry!" I yelled back and swerved to avoid the club sailing toward my direction. A loud bell rang from the back, signaling yet another intruder.
Even with the magnificent speed of My Favorite Harley, I was quickly facing a horde of monsters and warriors all armed and ready.
Sadly for them, my instincts as a warrior were at all times high. Volly of arrows came raining down, but a large swipe with my sword knocked them aside.
"Lock up!" A gruff feminine voice shouted, and a dozen full-armed warriors linked up their shields into a sturdy phalanx.
The last time I faced one, I only managed to take one down after fighting for my life. This time, all I had to do was floor the throttle.
For the first time, I blasted forward at full speed. The world around became a blur and most sounds drowned out as the speedometer reached the edge and went beyond.
I pulled the front wheel up right before we crashed, but I didn't even need to. Before the impact, the phalanx had scattered in fear for their life.
"Sorry!" I yelled again, but I doubted it was heard.
I zoomed through the entire boot camp. Nothing was able to get in my way. Anything that could move leaped out of the way, and anything that couldn't be trampled without a second thought.
Still, it wasn't without any challenges. From overhead, several winged monsters hissed and screeched.
One of them maneuvered a nose-dive and managed to latch onto the right arm side. She had a mismatch of animal and bronze legs and sank her fangs into my right arm.
Before I could throw her off, however, the vampire burst into flames. She screeched in agony as she toppled off the bike.
My right arm was oozing with blood, but it was the wrong color. It was gold—in other words, my right arm was bleeding with ichor; the blood of the immortals.
For a moment, I wondered if I'd become immortal. But then I remembered what Erytheia had said about the branch.
The immorality is embedded within the entire tree.
If my right arm was made of an immortal tree branch, then it won't be a stretch to assume that my right arm would be as well.
Unfortunately, I got too distracted by my arm to notice a row of grappling hooks and spike balls set up for launch.
It was too late when the explosion from the cannon notified me of the threat. I did my best to avoid the array of wheel blockers showering overhead and did a pretty good job for all of two seconds before a grapple yanked the back wheel to the side and launched me out of my seat.
My right hand shot out instinctively, and by some miracle, it cushioned the impact without breaking any bones.
"Ahh!"
I rolled into a random camp. It was occupied by a single girl who shrieked in surprise as I stood up, covered in dirt and scratches.
She looked up at me for a good long moment before fumbling to grab her knife. I flicked it out of her hand with ease, just like flipping a frying pan.
After one quick examination; I made out that the edges of the knife were uneven like a decayed tooth.
"You don't know how to sharpen a knife, do you?"
"Give it back!" The girl tried to pummel my stomach, but I held her back with my free arm. She flailed her arms a few times before realizing it was futile and retreated.
"When Mr. Rodriguez is back, he'll arrest you."
I had no idea who it was, but I could see that he was very trusted by the girl. I hope he was someone decent.
"Not a good choice of words for an imposter."
"What are you doing here?" The girl asked back with a frown.
I shrugged. "Just passing by. You're, ah, comrades don't seem to be willing to let me, though."
The raging footsteps shook the ground. From outside, I could hear the army surrounding the area.
"Sir! What do we do?"
"Ready your fire!"
The girl suddenly looked scared and grasped the bedsheet. "They're not going to fire, are they?"
Several cranking noises rang. I immediately noticed them as cannons getting ready to fire.
"No idea. Maybe you can go out?"
"Aren't you going to take me hostage or something?"
To be honest, the idea didn't even come to me until she suggested it first. Not that the idea was appealing in any way.
"I don't take hostages. If it makes you safer, I'll walk out."
That seemed to confuse the girl. "A...aren't you an enemy?"
"By factions, sure. But just because we're on different teams doesn't mean we have to hate each other, does it?"
The army seemed to be set. Judging from the barks of orders being tossed around, if I don't show up soon, there is a good chance that they'll just blast the area.
"I have to go. Here." I tossed the poor knife back to the girl and strode over to the exit.
"What's your name?" The girl asked.
With a simple click, the lighter elongated into a sword. I looked back from the front of the entrance and grinned.
"My name is David. David Lee."
"I'm Mary."
"It was nice meeting you, Mary. A kudos for your life."
I gave her a small wave. After a split hesitation, she waved back and said "Good luck."
And I stepped out of the tent.
Thankfully, they didn't blast me the moment I showed up; I wasn't sure how I could make it out if that was the case.
But funnily, I was also fairly positive that that wasn't going to happen. Or maybe I was just lucky. Either way was fine with me.
The commander stepped forth. It was a gruff girl in full battle armor that reminded me of Clarisse. Perhaps she was also a daughter of Ares.
That thought made me realize that many of the humans in the camp could may as well be demigods—did they know about the camp? Or did they leave the camp to join this army, whatever this army was?
Maybe this was the army Agrius was talking about?
"—Now, what say you?!"
I looked up. Hundreds of eyes were staring at me with anticipation.
"I, uh, wasn't focusing. Can you repeat what you said?"
The commander frowned and clenched her jawline. She mouthed "wasn't focusing?" before clearing her throat.
"I said, you can either join our rank, demigod. Or face the consequence of your misplaced loyalty."
"And by that, you mean..."
The group of monsters howled in excitement as they aimed their cannons. It was logged with harpoons than cannonballs, I guess that way they'll have something to eat afterward.
The commander glanced at the pack of monsters with distaste. "You don't have to die for the gods. What have they ever done for you?"
That made me think.
What had the gods have done for me?
I've spent the majority of my life in shambles. Ares never showed up until I was 15, the goddess Hecate messed up my foster family, possibly even my original one.
And from the stories I hear at camp, I was one of the lucky variants; some children went through some serious issues even before they were old enough for Highschool.
All because the gods couldn't be bothered to show up—some even not doing so to this day.
I looked around at the demigods in the crowd. How many of them did they know their parentage? How much was regarded important enough by the said god to be claimed?
Then I noticed something from the above. Something writhing dizzyingly as it soared over the full moon.
"...Not much," I admitted. It took me every ounce of self-preservation to hold back a grin.
The commander's face broke into a relieved smile. "See? It's not hard to see when you admit it."
"But," I cut in. "there's a friend up at the mountain, and I really need to help out.
And, also watch out for the dragon."
The commander didn't even have time to ask what I meant. Next second, Ladon landed on dozens of monsters, instantly squashing them to dust.
RRAAAAAARRRHHH!!!!
The entire night shuddered with a chorus of dragon roars from hundred heads all shouting at the top of their throats.
Most of the army screamed and ran for their life. Few were brave enough to take a shot at the dragon, but its scales deflected the shot like an egg against a boulder.
From the back of the dragon, Erytheia slid down by one of the legs. The other three Hesperides were also present; Lipara was having the time of her life at the top of one of the heads.
"Not going to lie, I didn't expect Ladon to be with you," I said.
Erytheia smiled. "I told you we're not fighters, didn't I? But you were right, hero; Zoë and I—and everyone else, we are still a family."
I grinned back. The Hesperid seemed to blush, before grabbing my hand and hauling me up on Ladon's back as well.
"Come on, Ladon! Let's go to our real home!" She shouted. Ladon roared once more, flapped its gigantic wings, and lifted itself into the sky.
A few more took potshot from behind, but they didn't make it past the flickering tail as we neared the tip of the mountain, where an ominous shrine was standing lonesome.
[Line Break]
[3rd Person's Pov]
Every time her spear clashed with Thalia's, Reyna found herself getting reminded of Jason.
It was odd because Jason wasn't fond of spears or shields; especially not ones that had a medusa head carved at the front that made it hard to face it properly.
She ducked as Thalia jabbed forward, aiming for her neck. The crackling sparks emitting from the tip barely missed setting her hair on fire. The Latino tried to maim the armpit, only to get the spear knocked aside by Aegis.
"Stay back," Thalia warned before stepping in with a large swipe.
Instead of moving back, Reyna stepped forward as well, letting it graze her free arm while stabbing forward with all her strength.
Naturally, Thalia raised her shield for protection, which was what the praetor was aiming for.
KREEK!!!
With a nasty sound of metal violating metal, Thalia's Aegis got punctured by the golden spear. Before Thalia could recover from the shock, Reyna yanked the shield away. It clanged onto the floor, no longer available as a weapon.
"You're good," Reyna admitted, her spear leveled at Thalia's chest. "But you still need training."
"Oh yeah?"
Electricity sparked from the edge of Thalia's hair.
The shield was her most prized item—an artifact that she and Luke had to risk their lives to get, and now it was nothing more than a scrapped hunk of metal.
"Or perhaps, I've just been going easy on you!"
Thalia stabbed forward. A bolt of lightning shot out at the end of her strike, which surprised both demigoddesses.
"The air you breathe is Aither; the air of the immortals," Atlas commented. "By merely breathing it, you'll awaken your godly parentage. That would make your father's blood stronger within you, Thalia."
"I don't need my father's blood to win!"
The General grinned in approval as Thalia advanced. Now that there wasn't any protective gear on either of them, the duel became more agile and skill-based than before.
Reyna's years of training managed to keep Thalia at her speartip, but the sheer power from Thalia was getting the better of the roman demigod fast.
Clang!
The bronze and gold tips collided again and again. Reyna felt the resounding vibrations shake her bones and grimaced through the pain.
She couldn't successfully beat her in straightforward combat. Not unless she went for actual casualty, and even then she doubted it would guarantee her the win.
From the back, the praetor heard continuous clangings going off without a breather—unlike them, Zoë and Luke were fully intent on killing their enemy.
Reyna saw Thalia's blue eyes dart over her shoulder with concern. With a jolt like a thunderstrike, Reyna realized what the scarred boy meant to her.
"Thalia," She called.
Thalia immediately snapped out of her distraction and swiped across the air. Reyna barely managed to side-step out of the way. Her eyes followed the tip narrowly passing by.
She continued anyway. "You said there was a guy you liked,"
"Shut up," Thalia growled through clenched teeth.
Electricity crackled through the spear, but with a frustrated grunt, Thalia shook them off before ferociously stabbing forth.
Reyna deflected the shot with relative ease. Even the most brutal attacks can be disregarded when fired without skill.
"You said," She pressed on, wielding her spear at the same time. "You just wanted a life without any interference.
But if there is anything I've learned over the years, gaining power won't let you have that."
Thalia paused for a fraction of a second, her expression in total shock. For a second, Reyna hoped she had made a breakthrough.
Then, a block of chilling ice crawled down her spine. Her enhanced warrior instincts kicked in, and she whirled around with her spear just in time to meet a dual-material blade aimed straight at her back.
"Wait, Luke!" Thalia tried to complain, but Luke was quickly advancing on Reyna.
Suddenly left regardless, Zoë tried to aim at the vulnerable back of Luke as well, but a quick jab from Thalia robbed her chance.
"Vlákas(Idiot)!" The hunter spat at her.
Thalia didn't answer back. She was about to move after the fight between Luke and Reyna, but a large hand rested on her shoulder and held her back.
Atlas pointed at the pool.
The surface was boiling as if there was a fire burning underneath, and soon enough something burst out with a sprinkle of water.
"Moo!" The Ophiotaurus flailed in the air for a second before getting mercilessly pinned down on the floor by the talons of Kelli.
"I'm back with the beast, General!" The Empousa shouted and licked her lips. Her nails dug into the flesh of the cow serpent.
"Moo!!" The Ophiotaurus cried out in pain and twitched on the spot as blood dripped onto the floor.
"Stop!" Zoë shouted.
Without her bow, the best option she could take was to lunge at the prime monster with her extended knife.
Kelli hissed and raised her arm to retaliate, but with a flick of Atlas's hand, an invisible force slammed into the huntress in mid-air.
Artemis groaned as her lieutenant crashed against the hard marble pillar and crumpled to the ground. Still conscious, but too dazed to act instantly.
At the same time, Reyna became distracted by the commotion happening else. It was only for a fraction of a second, but that was all that Luke needed.
He landed a kick at the praetor's stomach and sent her toppling several feet away. Her spear flew out of her hand and clattered out of her reach.
"Now, the time has come!" Atlas's voice boomed across the Aither, shaking the air of gods as if a thunderclap was near. "For the gods to perish, and Olympus to fall in rubbles!
Thalia, Daughter of Zeus! Finish your quest. Claim the great prophecy as yours! And make it quick."
"Or be slow if you want to." Kelli cackled, licking the blood of the Ophiotaurus off her fingers as she stepped back.
The Ophiotaurus wasn't going anywhere with such a deep wound. It feebly flailed on the floor, desperately crying out in search of her friends and water.
"Thalia." Luke came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. The daughter of Zeus looked at him, deeply conflicted.
After a split hesitance, Luke said; "You promised."
Thalia's face became grim. Her hand gripped her spear more tightly, and it started to slowly rise into the air...
"Wait!" Reyna was back on her feet. "Thalia, don't take orders from anyone else!"
"Silence!" Atlas roared and stomped his foot.
A trail of fissures overflowing with energy traveled across the ground. It connected to the praetor and sent her flying back again—this time, much harder than a kick to the stomach did.
She smashed into a statue of a Titan with a scale on her hand and slumped to the ground. However, Reyna yanked herself back up to her feet.
Her aching stomach and spinning head certainly didn't appreciate the action, but she kept her eyes focused on Thalia.
"...I know, why you want power. It seems like, like you gain more control over yourself. Over the things around you."
As she spoke, Reyna realized that she'd done the exact same thing. The reason why she trained herself to the extreme at Camp Jupiter, why she strove to become a Praetor—it was all because it gave her the imagination of control.
"But truthfully, it won't."
She didn't have any control over anything. Just more and more responsibilities.
Reyna Ramírez-Arellano pointed at Thalia, and doing so, pointed also her past self.
"If there is something you want to achieve, you must take it only on your own terms!"
Luke started to make his way back to Reyna.
"Do it!" Atlas roared.
With a yell, Thalia thrust her arm with all her strength.
Her spear went flying to the pool. It smashed into the side and broke it into pieces. Water flowed out into the open.
"No!" Kelli tried to jump in before the clear fluid touched the Ophiotaurus, but it was too late.
With the last Moo, she vanished from sight as a single drop above the gushing water.
For a moment, the entire arena was silent except for the steady sound of water dripping down from the broken pool. Everyone, including Artemis, was gaping at Thalia—and what she'd just given up.
"That was nice," Thalia muttered with a relieved smirk on her face. She felt as if there was a huge weight that had been over her shoulder for decades was suddenly removed.
The silence broke with Atlas's roar of fury. As the Titan rose from his throne, his suit reformed into full Greek battle armor. His hand grabbed a double-sided battle axe.
Luke cursed in Ancient Greek. He shouted "Kelli!" while reaching out for Thalia, but for the first time, she refused to take his hand.
"What are you..."
"I think I should try out Camp Half-Blood, Luke. I've always wanted to see what Annabeth saw in them." She announced.
In a split second, Luke's expression went from confusion to shock to utter fury. "You're betraying me!?"
Before Thalia could deny that specific word, however, Kelli swooped in and embraced the Son of Hermes. She threw Thalia a triumphant sneer before melting into the shadows, leaving no trace to track behind.
Thalia cautiously stepped back as the General rose to his full height, towering over any monster she faced in her treacherous journey.
Luckily, her spear was carried down with the water. As she scooped it up, Reyna and Thalia came up to either side of her.
"I'm glad you made the right choice," Reyna said.
"Thanks, I hope I live long enough to cherish it," Thalia replied.
Atlas looked down on the petty beings that opposed him, and he bellowed in laughter.
"I've smashed countless gods down to Chaos with my bare hands! There is no point in challenging the inevitable."
He spun his axe around in a beautiful, deadly arc.
"Follow my lead, and be careful!" Zoë shouted over the echos of her father's laughter. "Atlas won't be anything like whoever you've faced beforehand!"
And with that, the three charged at the Titan.
Outro!
I got nothing. It is 4 am in my timezone right now, and I'm tired as hell after 12 hours of traveling with planes, buses and a subway.
I hope you had a fun time reading, and I hope to see you all in the next chapter
Ta ta~