Ch53

Nico swore as he walked into his tent drenched in water. "Damn them all." The wave had taken out the bridge along with most of their forces on it. He himself managed to survive but was drenched in the process.

He set his father's sword down and quickly changed. I'll save you Bianca. Deep down he still had hope that he could take her back and undo the brainwashing. His heart quivered as he thought of her. They are making you do so many bad things. I'll make sure they pay.

Strapping on his father's sword he exited the tent and looked at the rows of monsters. "Nico Lord Kronos summons you," an allied demigod said.

He nodded. "I'll be there."

Just like Luke I'll be a hero. Mankind has suffered too long under the gods. He'd be a hero just like those in his mythomagic game. Kronos made me his lieutenant and I won't let him down. I'll be the hero of this prophecy and bring a new age to mankind.

As soon as he approached the tent the two monsters guarding it allowed him to enter. The inside was calm and he could feel the Kronos' presence as he sat on the chair in the middle of the tent.

He bowed politely. "Lord Kronos."

Kronos looked him over, since it was still Luke's body a part of him still fluttered at the sight of him. "Nico di Angelo I need you to use your birthright and summon a large hoard of undead. The sooner we defeat the enemy the better."

"Understood," he said firmly. Yes! Now it was his time to shine. "M-My lord may I have permission to find my sister? I hear that those damn hunters are here."

Kronos nodded. "You may do so. But do not let your judgement cloud your mind, her heart is with my granddaughter."

He frowned. "They brainwashed her too well. I know you can convince her when the time is right."

A smile spread across Luke's face that made him feel flustered. "If only my other subjects had as much faith in me as you Nico di Angelo. No go and summon your army of undead and raise this city in my name!"

He bowed quickly. "Yes my lord!"

As soon as he exited the tent he quickly shadow traveled to a part of the camp that wasn't as occupied. "Alright I'll show these pesky tools of the gods." He drew the blade his father made. It hummed ominously as he looked at his reflection in it.

"If only you could've seen the light and chosen the right side." His blood boiled inside of him as he gripped the blade. "Too bad you chose to use me and Bianca as your tools."

His anger boiled inside of him as he slammed the sword into the ground. It glowed darkly as the ground shook. I am still your son father even after all that you did. He poured his energy into the sword as he tapped into the underworld.

He chuckled as the ground ripped open. Then he laughed as more and more undead warriors poured out of the ground. The age of the gods shall end here. A grin spread across his face as he staggered up and gripped his sword while clenching his chest, using a god's weapon took a lot of energy out of him. They'll pay for their crimes. He scanned the army of undead in front of him and raised his sword. "Destroy the dogs of Olympus!"

The army of undead reacted to his command and began to march. A grin spread across his face as he cleaned the sweat from his forehead. "Bianca I'll get you back for real this time," he muttered as he sheathed the sword. His vision blurred a bit but he walked it off with a few staggering steps. I'll make sure Kronos breaks whatever hold they have over you once and for all.

He quickly found a group of injured demigods with arrows in their armor. "Was it the hunters?" He asked as he quickly grabbed one of them and shook them down. "Tell me was it them!"

The demigod shook his head rapidly his eyes widening in fear. "It was them! They came at us like wolves!"

He swore as he let the demigod go. "Lets go!"

The undead army followed him as they raced towards the frontlines. The sound of battle filled the area as he saw them. The Hunters of Artemis were supporting one of the many demigod cabins.

"For Ares!" A large white girl said as she wielded a spear.

He froze as her recognized her. She was one of those girls who took Bianca. He clenched his fists as he glared at her. I'll make sure she pays for what she did.

It was then he saw her, Bianca stood with her bow and arrow in hand as she fired at the forces of Kronos. By her side was that punk looking white girl who blasted enemies back with lightning.

The will pay. His blood boiled as he watched them, they weren't her family he was. He drew his father's sword. "For Kronos!"

The hoard of undead fell upon the hunters. You'll all pay. With one slash of his sword he sent about a half dozen hunters to the underworld their screams were music to his ears.

"Nico!" His gaze shot up as he saw Bianca with her bow in hand her gaze red. "Please don't do this!"

He laughed. "There is no going back now." His posture stiffened as he raised the sword into the air. "Bianca they've toyed with your mind so much." A grin spread across his face as he glared at the hunters. "I'll bring you back alive and Lord Kronos will be personally oversee your deprogramming."

The big girl stepped forward with a menacing gaze. "Hey brat your sister loves you don't be a dick or else we won't play nice anymore."

"All those who brainwashed my sister will suffer in Tartarus," he said cooldly

Bianca stepped forward with an angry red gaze. "Nico this is your last chance. If you don't put that sword down and surrender we will attack you."

He smirked as he gripped his sword. "This is your last chance. Surrender and submit to Kronos or perish."

Bianca's posture turned rigid as she knocked an arrow and pointed it at him. "Never." Her gaze was a mixture of determination and sorrow. "I will never join Kronos.

The coldness in her voice made his blood boil. "They really got to you didn't they?" A dark aura enveloped him as he raised his sword. "Kill them all and take my sister alive!"

The army of undead fell upon the hunters and the minions of the gods. He charged at Bianca who fired an arrow at them. You don't mean it. He easily slashed the arrow in the air. They are making you fight me. Yes that must be the case. His sister would never hurt him, she was always there to take care of him. It was those damn gods who put those thoughts in her mind.

Suddenly a bolt of lightning hit him and sent him flying back. "Stay from the hunt boy," a white girl in a punk out fit said.

"Thalia let me deal with him!" Bianca yelled.

He swore as he got up but the other girl came at him with her spear. "Damn pigs," he swore as he blocked her attacks. The girl came at him with the ferocity of a wild animal, looking into her eyes was like looking into the eyes of a soldier in the middle of an intense battlefield.

Using his swords he managed to block her attacks. He was about to stab her in the heart when to his surprise she got in close and kicked him. His eyes widened as he fell backwards.

"You brat," the girl spat. "You caused so many problems for your sister. Don' you know how much she cries over you?"

He spat out blood as he glared murderously at the big girl. "If she really cares she'd follow me now? Me and Kronos have given her many opportunities to join us but you people have brainwashed her."

"Enough Nico!" Bianca stepped forward her bow raised with an arrow in it. "Call of your army or else."

"Or else-"

He didn't finish sentence. The next thing he knew the arrow flew through the air and landed in his shoulder. A part of him did want to cry out in pain. "Bianca…Why?"

"Nico don't make me fight you for real," Bianca said in low tone as she readied another arrow. "I joined the hunt and am siding with Lady Artemis and the Gods. I do all of this of my own free will and choice." She readied the arrow and pointed at him. "Last chance surrender now or else we'll fight."

Tears fell down his face as his body shook. "Bianca this isn't you," he said softly as he stepped into the shadows. "The gods will get what they deserve for messing with you but I swear I will save you from them. We'll be a family and you can take care of me again."

A dark aura enveloped his body as he slammed his sword into the ground. "Look out!" the big girl said as waves of underworld energy hit the girls back while hitting Thalia Grace so hard she flew back.

The arrow flew from his sister's bow into the air but by then he had already melted into the shadows. The gods shall pay. I'll tear Olympus down myself! It was only fitting for all that they did to his family.

Alabaster casted a healing charm on Thalia Grace. "Your lucky we came to you when we did, underworld magic isn't something to be taken lightly."

Thalia nodded. "Didn't think those undead warriors would give us this much trouble," she muttered.

Percy and Annabeth eyed the map on the table. "Nico di Angelo is too dangerous to be left alone. We'll have to take him out one way or another."

"Bianca is devastated," Thalia muttered. "As much as she wants to save him she knows that this war." She shook her head as she stood up. "Thanks Alabaster."

He nodded. "No problem."

"We'll think of something," Annabeth said. "Right now those undead are closing in on our ranks."

Ethan came in through the tent. "Hey Nico has been spotted again. He summoned another hoard of undead."

Percy swore. "Again? I'll be there."

"Actually Medea thinks Alabaster could should go," Ethan said. The son of Nemesis turned to him. "She said it's time to ride them."

"Got it." His stomach turned as he turned to Percy. "I'll be back."

Percy met his gaze. "Be safe."

He quickly exited the tent and headed towards where his aunt and Daedalus kept some of their more special weapons. He found Medea talking with her staff in hand as she petted the two dragons.

"There there my pets soon you shall both fly." Medea turned to him and smiled. "Don't worry Alabaster they will obey you." She handed him her staff. "Take this."

His eyes widened as she handed him her staff. "But auntie this is your staff. You've had it for ages!"

Medea smiled. "And now you shall show the enemy the strength of Hecate."

He looked the staff over, it was a large metallic rod with a large circular ending. "I'll do it." Look Kronos and Nico here I come. He quickly got into the chariot and gripped the reigns. "Lets go!"

The dragons then roared loudly and took off at such a speed he thought he would fall off. He gripped the reigns tightly as he flew through the air. "Hey slow down!"

The dragons looked at him and nodded as they slowed down. His heart raced as he looked down at the city of New York. It was a large battlefield but he could see the undead. "Alright lets go that way!" He pointed down with the staff to where the undead were the most concentrated. The dragons roared as they flew towards the frontlines.

He gripped the reigns of the chariot as it flew through the air. Damn these things are strong. The dragons listened to him as they pulled him through the sky like at frightening speeds.

He fumbled with the staff in his hand, raising it high in the sky he muttered a spell and green flames lit up the surrounding area. Mother watch over us. We'll bring you glory.

The dragons roared as they opened their maws and spewed flames onto the enemy ranks. The screams of the monsters and enemy demigods filled the area as the enemy lines were incinerated. He could hear the campers cheer him as he flew past them. I guess I can help here for a bit.

Raising the torch in his hand green flames spewed down on the enemy positions. "Charge! For Hecate! For Olympus!"

"GRAAH!" The twin dragons let out a monstrous roar as they broke through the enemy lines with their talons. Their maws spewed hot flames onto the enemy ranks, their screams reverberated throughout the area as the campers behind him cheered.

It was then that the ground shook. Up ahead he noticed Nico di Angelo step forward with that menacing looking sword in hand. Lets do this you piece of shit.

The son of Hades' gaze off an unsettling vibe as he raised his sword. The ground around him erupted as dead soldiers wearing a variety of uniforms emerged from the ground. Damn it. He raised his torch and the dragons spewed the first line of undead with flames.

"Don't be afraid we can do this!" he yelled as the campers behind him began to tremble. "Stay in formation!"

He swore as the dragons squashed an enemy zombie to the ground. Alright brat lets do this. Chanting in Latin the area became filled with green smoke, his torch flickered as green flames flew towards Nico.

The son of Hades dodged the flames his eyes full of insanity as he slammed his sword into he ground. "You minions of the gods will pay!" The ground shook as the son of Hades laughed. "I will save my sister, we'll be forever!"

Nico let out a deranged laugh as a large skeletal cyclops emerged from the ground. The creature charged at him with its large outstretched arms. Gripping his reigns he raised his torch and the dragons responded by charging into the cyclops knocking it down and scorching it with flames.

"Stay down!" He muttered a spell in Latin and the half dead cyclops moaned in pain before the dragons chomped its head off.

"Alabaster!"

He snapped his head around and saw Percy, the son of Poseidon was riding Blackjack. The son of Poseidon threw a blue ball on the ground, it shattered and began watery foam began to emerge from the shards.

A smile spread across his face. "Looks like we have our child of the prophecy too."

Nico swore as the water came for him. The son of Hades barely had time to raise his sword as Percy flew at him with a wave of water.

He gripped his reigns. "Lets go!"

The dragons into a swift dive. Nico stood below, his dark armor glinting in the eerie glow of green flames and shadowed by his skeletal horde. With a flick of his wrist, he raised Medea's staff high, chanting a spell that filled the air with crackling energy. The staff gleamed, and twin arcs of emerald fire shot from the dragons' maws, raining down in searing torrents.

Alright mother guide me to make the right choices. His body shook as he gripped the reins and staff tightly. We won't lose.

Nico's laughter echoed, low and twisted, as he raised his sword, cutting through the smoke and creating a shadowy barrier. "Is that all you got?" he asked as th ground around him split, and clawing hands of skeletal soldiers surged upward, shields and weapons still clutched in their grasp.

"Bring it you brat!" He shouted, urging the dragons forward. They shot over the ranks of undead, their claws and talons ripping through the brittle bone with shattering force. Flames cascaded down as he swung the staff, the heat warping the air around them as the dragons cut through the horde.

Percy swooped down on Blackjack, a fierce glint in his eyes as he raised his hand, calling the water to him. A nearby fire hydrant burst, sending a wave spiraling through the undead, knocking them back in a spray of salt and bone fragments. "Hope you didn't miss me, Nico!" he shouted, his voice cutting through the din.

Nico's eyes glinted with something between fury and excitement. "You can't stop me, I'm the real hero of the prophecy!" he growled, his voice echoing like a dark whisper through the battlefield. He plunged his sword into the ground, and the earth trembled, a dark crack racing toward Percy. Shadowy tendrils shot up, wrapping around Blackjack's legs, trying to drag them down.

"Not a chance!" Percy's grip tightened as he raised his other hand, summoning a whirlpool that sliced through the shadows and ripped them apart. He leapt off Blackjack, landing on the ground with a spray of water around him, Riptide drawn and gleaming in his grip.

He circled above, eyes narrowed as he spotted an opening. He muttered another spell, and a green mist began to swirl around Nico, thickening and tightening like ropes. Nico's movements slowed as the spell took hold, his body straining against the magic.

"Getting tired?" Alabaster taunted, forcing the mist to pull tighter.

Nico snarled, his eyes flashing. With a shout, he broke free, shadows erupting from his body like smoke. "You really think you're stronger?" His voice was a hiss as he sent a wave of bone-chilling darkness surging toward him. "How can a mere child of Hecate be a hero? You and your mother both had your chances and now you'll both pay!"

He gritted his teeth, guiding the dragons to dive straight into the heart of the shadowy wave. The moment they made contact, the shadows curled back, writhing, as the dragons' flames cut through the darkness, dispelling it with a blast of heat and light.

"Now!" Percy shouted. Alabaster nodded, directing the dragons to pounce. They roared, each claw and bite pushing Nico back as Percy charged in with a deadly arc of Riptide, his strikes relentless, driving Nico further into retreat.

He then raised his staff and yelled a spell as the dragons spewed more flames from their mouths. Nico screamed as he was sent flying against the wall his body covered in flames

"This isn't over!" The boy glared at them as his body shook With a swift motion, he drove his sword into the ground, summoning a giant fissure that split the earth open beneath them. Skeletons poured out, their eyeless sockets fixed on Percy and Alabaster.

"Oh, come on," Percy muttered. With a flick of his hand, he sent a tidal wave crashing into the skeletal ranks, scattering them. Alabaster followed up, his voice steady as he chanted, and a gust of green fire tore through the undead, leaving nothing but smoldering fragments.

The ground shook again as Nico summoned a massive, shadowy creature a three-headed skeletal hound that let out a deafening roar. It lunged at them, snapping its jaws, each head dripping with ghostly mist.

His dragons roared in return, meeting the hound head-on, their claws tearing through bone and shadow. Percy moved in behind them, focusing a torrent of water into a spear that he hurled straight at the hound's center head, shattering it with a spray of bone shards.

As the hound collapsed, Nico staggered back, shadows pooling around him. His face was pale, his strength clearly waning. Percy and Alabaster shared a look, then closed in, ready to end this.

Nico's eyes darkened, defiance burning within them. "This isn't the end. For either of us," he spat, before sinking into the shadows, his form fading into a swirl of darkness.

They stood in silence for a moment, the battlefield eerily quiet. He let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, lowering the staff. He looked at Percy, who nodded, wiping bone dust off his arm.

"Next time," Percy muttered, "he won't get away."

He breathed a sigh of relief. "Yeah next time."

With that they returned to their base camp. After handing the dragons and staff back to his aunt he collapsed in the command tent where Annabeth Chase was looking over some documents. "How did it go?" She asked.

He sighed and rubbed his arm. "Nico di Angelo is a tough brat, but we managed to push him back."

The dim glow of the lights cast long shadows around the command tent, flickering against maps and battle plans sprawled across the tables. He leaned back in a chair, exhaustion making his limbs feel heavy, his breathing slowing now that the battle had passed.

Percy came over and looked over the map on the table. "Yeah that kid is really enamored with Luke it seems." The son of Poseidon shivered. "He's a creepy kid."

He relaxed in the chair and looked up at Annabeth. "You knew him the longest? What drives him?'"

Annabeth paused and looked down at the ground. "He felt betrayed," she murmured. "Wronged by the gods. He thought they never cared—he felt abandoned. His mother…" Her words faded, her jaw tight. "Hermes left her alone. She was broken, and Luke saw that."

"Oh…sounds tough," he muttered.

A silence settled over them, heavier than before. Percy gave a faint nod, his own expression grim. "I met her once. She… wasn't well. It was hard to see," he said, his voice low with understanding.

He gave a slight nod. "We all have something, don't we?" He glanced between Percy and Annabeth, his voice soft but steady. "A tragedy, a flaw. All of us, one way or another." His words lingered, hanging between them in the quiet, shared in an unspoken understanding that only those who'd been through it could know.

After a moment, Annabeth straightened, a hint of resolve sharpening her gaze. "Do you think we can do it?" she asked, her tone barely a whisper.

Percy looked up, curiosity flickering across his face. "What do you mean?"

He exchanged a look with Annabeth, gauging her hesitation, before finally speaking. "There's a chance—slim, but real—that we could save him." He paused, steadying himself, the weight of the plan pressing on his shoulders. "If we act right at the moment of… ending him, there's a way to eject his soul. We could force it out before Kronos takes everything. It would be risky. And… it might not work."

Percy considered him for a moment, eyes searching his face for any sign of doubt. "And if it doesn't?"

"Then… we lose Luke," he said, feeling the weight of it settle over them all.

Annabeth's eyes held his, a silent plea mixed with the determination she wore so well. But Percy's expression turned thoughtful, his fingers drumming softly against the table. After a long pause, he nodded. "I get it," he said slowly, "but Olympus… comes first."

Annabeth nodded her gaze looked wet in the light. "I know."