All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 9

An Oath to Keep with a Final Breath

(Percy)

I could do practically nothing as the ship started explode around me. All I could was curl into a ball and hope the curse protected most of my body, while my shield defended my weak point strapped to my back as it was. The small golden figure of Nemea in my arms seemed to understand as well and had coiled up tightly with her head between her forepaws protecting her vulnerable face from the heat. Now I knew from my prior experience at Mount St. Helens, that I was pretty resistant to heat. So, I initially hoped the flames would die out quickly before they became unbearable. Unfortunately for me however, the numerous rents in the falling ship's hull fed the flames with a constant supply of fresh oxygen, only worsening the situation as everything flammable on board started to burn.

The only stroke of luck I had was whatever hit us, had shorn the ship in half as the ammo for the ballistae and cannon had been stored in the bow section and I felt the pressure wave strike my part of the ship when they detonated.

I began to reach out with my senses to see if there was anything left on board that could help me but all water had long since evaporated stopping that trail of hope dead in its tracks. So I thought of what other abilities could be of use, earthquakes no, weapons no, time no… wait, maybe it was a chance.

Hurriedly I began to focus on my surroundings and choosing to try and accelerate time on everything nearby. To my satisfied surprise my actions ended up blowing out the fires around me as I changed everything combustible to an already burnt stage about 15 minutes in the future. With the immediate threat to me cleared I risked a look around.

I was still in the cargo hold several feet away from the massive hole, where the ship had split giving me a great view of the rapidly rising earth. As if Gaia was personally laughing in my face at the situation, I was stuck in. Nemea too had uncurled herself now it was safer and climbed onto my shoulders as we studied the end approaching.

"You're lucky you are a cat, if you jumped you would probably land on your feet and walk it off. I would make a demigod/titan pancake spread across half the countryside" I joked to the wide-eyed cat. That was when it came to me. A slim chance for the both of us to get out of this, after all I had protected her, now it was her time to repay the favour.

I concentrated on the cub in front of me trying to do what I had before and make her age, my plan was simple: make her an adult again and we would leap to safety when we were a few stories off the ground. The problem was I couldn't remember how I did it, my time powers seemed to be rather picky about when they would activate and now was really not the time. I continued to focus on the cub but keeping an eye on the ground only about a thousand feet below. When I suddenly thought it was now or never and threw my energy at the weave of time in my head only to be surrounded by golden light.

When I opened my eyes, all I could see was an enormous golden head of a fully grown Nemean Lioness before she grabbed me in her teeth and ripped her way through what was left of the hull beneath us and we fell the last few hundred feet to the ground.

Now when people say a cat always lands on its feet, they are full of crap as Nemea proved she did land on her feet... then her face (her teeth clamping down on me as a result) before rolling on her back and eventually stopping spread eagle on the floor and dropping me. Just in time for us to see the Argo II strike the floor and explode several hundred yards ahead of us. Even from that distance debris thrown into the sky began to fall back down around me, though thankfully nothing to major. Last thing I needed was to get crushed under a lump of bronze armour plating.

Slowly I stood up and stretched my limbs working out the pain and discomfort from when I was hurriedly used as a gag. Looking around me I realised the fall from the sky however, meant I was now several kilometres away from Olympus and the others. With nothing but my weapons, burnt clothing and nothing else but the friendly monster beside me.

Now that I had time to think I realized that we had done are bit and made it here, but we just assumed the gods would be waiting for us to arrive. Then we would bust some heads and go home and celebrate but the more I thought about it, the stupider that idea seemed. Surely if the gods were waiting, they could have at least engaged the giants or helped us out in the crash? Which meant they were probably all sitting on Olympus waiting for a signal from us before arriving which was typical Olympus in a nutshell. Given a chance they would likely all sit on their asses until expressly needed, even when their lives were threatened.

Which meant I had to contact them in case the others didn't, which although unlikely, I couldn't take that risk.

I began to summon water out of the ground before separating the molecules into a fine mist using hydro kinesis before searching my pockets for some drachmas only to find one and only one which left me with a dilemma contact the gods or contact the others and tell them I am fine. While the fought of Annabeth grieving over my supposed death cut at my heartstrings, I knew the situation was more important and we needed the gods to have any chance of survival and to win this war.

"O Iris, goddess of the Rainbow, show me the Olympian Council" I called into air before the veil of water began to change. Once it stabilised the sight that appeared before me was strange. The whole council seemed to be in attendance but in a mixed variety of aspects both Greek and Roman at the same time before occasionally randomly swapping and I remembered our conversation with Dionysius/Bacchus while still in America about the god's nature being at war due to the accidental conflict between the camps.

"Lord Jupiter, we have arrived at Olympus!" I shouted hoping to get the councils attention and I saw their heads turning towards me and the Roman gods turning Greek before reverting.

My father looked surprised to see me and I was glad to see he was in his Greek form, which I suppose was due to him only having one demigod, me.

"Perseus? When did you get out of Tartarus?" He asked obviously not aware of recent events.

"Yes, we would like to know that and what about my Greek daughter and statue, they better be intact. I don't want to be this awful Roman Goddess anymore' Minerva demanded bitterly apparently now mode locked.

"We escaped yesterday with the Titan Iapetus's help and myself and Annabeth bear the curse of Achilles and your statue is fine Lady Minerva it is with the others." I answered only to receive a scowl from the Goddess of Crafts at her own name. Apparently, this was affecting her personality a lot more than the others.

"You were helped by a Titan, why?" Poseidon asked in shock.

"Because he serves Hades now since taking a dip in the Lethe a few years ago, didn't you know?" I said simply and realised that I wished I had not.

"Hades has a Titan for a servant and doesn't tell anyone, what is this treachery?" Zeus proclaimed angrily.

"He is not so much a servant I believe as a friend and advisor. Who does a few jobs here and there around the Underworld." Ceres answered obviously having met the Titan before, perhaps during the last war when Demeter had been hiding in the underworld with Persephone and Hades.

"You have one missed call" Isis's voice suddenly chimed monotonously.

"Where are the others and the satyr?" Mercury asked.

"We were attacked and I was separated with an acquaintance when the Argo II was destroyed while on descent towards the mountain, Porphyrion and his Giants are already here and we need your help to defeat them" I exclaimed desperately.

"Mercury go check that his information is correct." Zeus commanded and the Roman messenger god teleported away as I rolled my eyes. It was not as if I had any reason to lie.

"Perseus what do you mean an acquaintance, who else was onboard the ship other than the eight demigods, the satyr and Arion. We were not aware of anyone else." Artemis asked the only goddess who seemed to be able to control her form because as far I was aware only her Greek side had hunters.

"Well, when we were in Tartarus, me and Annabeth may have accidentally tamed the Nemean Lion and brought it with us." I answered to the goddess's disbelief.

"How is that even possible, you managed to tame one of the most powerful known monsters? A child of Typhon and Echidna at that, it is hard enough killing the damned thing, my hunters have always actively avoided it in fear." She replied with a seemingly genuine look of respect on her adolescent face.

"The how is not important, the issue is we have a group of giants trying to destroy everything while we waste time on the technicalities" I cut in only to be followed by the arrival of Hermes kneeling in front of Zeus.

"He speaks the truth, there is a group of Giants at the base of Mount Olympus not all of them but at least half a dozen at present including Polybotes, Gration, Mimas, Leon, Pelorus and Enceladus." Hermes explained before shifting back to Mercury.

"What do you mean Enceladus, he was already killed on Mount Diablo by my son and me" Jupiter proclaimed indignantly.

"Well obviously someone dropped the ball and didn't check to make sure" My father chipped in sarcastically causing the king of the gods' face to redden.

"I hit him with a master bolt, he should have died and he was buried under a mountain". Zeus said brattishly.

"Yes, but did your son strike the killer blow afterwards?" Minerva demanded, understandably he was her bane after all.

"Well, he was unarmed but the giant was buried and made no sign of escaping. So, we thought he was dead." The king tried to explain only to falter under his daughter's crazed glare.

"He is the giant of strategy you fool; he deceived you and what use is burying a giant under a mountain? Have you forgotten we are fighting Gaia, all that happened was he was given an express escape route to safety."

"The who's to blame is not important, we know the situation and we need your help now"" I demanded of the gods knowing we were getting nowhere. I also remembered that missed call alert and knew it would have been Annabeth which meant she now believed I was dead, again.

"Perseus is correct, if we don't move to help them we are all doomed" Hades boomed as he walked into the throne room with Hestia by his side.

"What are you doing here you are not even Olympians" Zeus crowed angrily rising to his feet.

"I tell you what little brother, when we care about your beliefs, we will tell you. But I will not stand idle while we are destroyed. So I suggest you get off your asses and help your children because I will, even if I have to defeat them all alone' Hades snapped back at the council who avoided his gaze for the most part.

"You can't tell me what to do. if you want to go, go then' Zeus retorted childishly and I have never wanted to punch someone so much in my life.

"Brother listen to yourself; this sitting back is what got us into this problem. We knew Gaia was returning and you had us sit back and do nothing, only Juno chose to do something and you forced her into hiding after a small incident caused by Gaia's minions at camp Jupiter." Hestia said firmly

"The camps are at war, how is that small?" Apollo, the Roman one asked.

"True, but in a few hours, they will still be there if you don't move, we won't.' Hestia replied sharply. For a peaceful goddess she really knew how to put someone in their place as the majority of the council began to nod.

"Very well we will go, but I will deal with your insubordination and disrespect when we get back." Zeus said relenting at last and seemingly not noticing the smirks on his sibling's faces.

"Meet up with the others I will make my way towards them, they will need you the most." I said receiving nods of acknowledgement from my father and a few of the others.

"Hurry up Perseus, I have a feeling we will be needing you there before long." Artemis said before the message closed.

"Nemea, we need to get to the others as quick as we can." I said to the enormous cat who nodded in agreement before lowering herself to the floor and extending a leg for me to climb up onto her back as she was now the size of a tank in her adult form. It was still strange to me how she could keep changing ages backwards and forwards and that mental state seemed to follow suit from a gentle kitten to an intelligent behemoth of a lioness and I was the one causing it I though as I climbed aboard and grabbed the scruff of her neck for support.

"Come on then girl, let's go find Annabeth." I said before we went from 0-60 in two bounds and started to go faster with each bound as we followed the path of debris backwards towards the mountain and hopefully the others. Now I knew Nemea could go fast I had seen her after all keeping pace with an Amtrak train on the way to Denver so many years ago but before long Arion would start to feel threatened. Not that I cared I was loving it and it was far better than his stupid chariot.

(Nico)

After we had realized that we had no gods with us. we became frantic as everyone began to panic and sink into depression that it was all for nothing, until Hazel got the idea to Iris message them. Unfortunately, we had a problem, Annabeth had just used our last Drachma to contact someone who was apparently dead and Iris wasn't handing out any free service.

"Well why don't I just summon some gold and we use that." My sister suggested optimistically.

"It won't work, gods will only accept official Olympus minted coins not mortal gold, they lack the magical connection, even Apollo's temple is made out of sacred gold." Annabeth answered briefly from her position on the floor with her knees pulled up to her chin before sinking back into grieving.

The strange thing was I had not felt Percy dying and this somewhat confused me. Now this could have been for several reasons as I had discovered yesterday. One he was not actually dead, but it was difficult to imagine anyone surviving that explosion and the following impact and the first Iris message seemed to concur with that point. Two he had broken a promise on the Styx which meant he would go straight to the river as if it was a straight to hell card in monopoly. Or three and finally it was due to his unique nature as a part human, part god, part immortal titan hybrid, although the proportions of each was unknown to me having something to do with it. In whatever case he was gone and we were all alone with no chance at help from Olympus when it struck me.

"Guys why don't we ask my father for help? I could shadow travel home ask him for help in getting the others to come and even if not I could grab some drachmas from my room." I suggested to which they looked confused at first before understanding and acknowledgement hit them that we still an option other than charge in and hope for the best.

"Guys I won't be long I promise don't go climbing the mountain without me." I said before fading into the shadow of the statue.

I reappeared in the courtyard of my father's palace, where he seemed to be having tea with my aunt Hestia who kept on rejecting the food offered by the undead waitresses and seemed quite content summoning her own. Now most Olympians would never visit my father as they were content with the happy little lives up on Olympus except Demeter when Persephone was here or Hermes when he had a Message but Hestia was here quite often. Normally to talk with her oldest brother whenever she felt like having a meaningful chat with someone about their younger siblings' latest actions.

"I sensed that the seven have arrived near Olympus and yet Zeus as usual seems content to sit on his backside and do nothing and the others are mostly struggling with their aspects, Poseidon is still distressed about Percy being stuck in Tartarus and Athena has become locked as Minerva and keeps preaching about how it is all the Roman's fault." She explained to my father before the pair noticed me.

"Nico what are you doing here you should be with the others at Olympus fighting the giants" My father asked confused to see me.

"And of what use will it be for us to be fighting them, if we cannot kill them on our own? The only god we have with us is a loud-mouthed horse." I explained angrily walking right up to my father.

"Well, what do you want me to do about it, my brother has forbidden the others to go and my bane is already dead?" He retorted albeit weakly.

"You can go up there and bust some heads until he agrees or you could always help us yourself anyway, just because your bane is dead doesn't me you get a free pass in this fight. Hell, your only two mortal children are fighting in it once I get back."

"You are my only child; you know my other side is unable to acknowledge her that is the only thing keeping me stable in this form and I am forbidden from entering Olympus without invitation except on the solstice."

"Well, what if another god gave you an invitation?" I said before locking eyes on Hestia whose blazing orbs focused on me that gave me comfort before a smile appeared on her face.

"You are learning well at how we play this game, nephew. Indeed, you are correct we gods do need your help if we are to survive and you need our help to defeat the gigantes, I will go to the council and I expect to see you there, little brother.' Hestia said before flashing out in a blaze of flames and getter a look of indignity from Hades at being called little brother.

"How dare she call me little brother; he is the youngest. I have always been brother, nothing more or less just because she is conscious about her age and decides to appear as a child forever." My father muttered to himself off on a tangent before he looked back to me.

"Anything else you need son?" He asked.

"Yes Father, recently we lost the Argo II and Percy was still onboard when it exploded, I was wondering if you knew where his soul went." I asked hopingly.

"Well, this is the first I know about it unless Alecto managed to cover it up and has him for some personal torture but I do not feel him within my domain so he is probably still alive." He answered raising my hopes and referencing the Furies well known hatred of Percy because he had killed all three at one point or another and helped hogtie Alecto in a bus. She was constantly preaching about what she would do to him if she got a chance and had left an entire area of punishment vacant in reserve, just in case.

"Thank you then father, I shall be going." I said before bowing and going to leave.

"One more thing Nico, I want you to promise something to me." He called making me turn around.

"What is it father?"

"I want you to promise not to die and to protect her if you can, now I finally know what that seaweed brain brother of mine sees in his son. You truly are my favourite child; you are not conceited and shallow like the others were. I hope to you are rewarded for it one day, perhaps you can raise the House of Hades to glory again, you have done it once." he said before fading into shadows.

"I promise father." I declared proudly before shadow traveling back.

I arrived back to find the others, checking all the equipment we had left except Hedge who was sitting on a low bluff above us looking at the mountain for signs of trouble.

"Well, I spoke to my father and Hestia who said they would convince the Olympians to come to our aid. They are going up to Olympus now to talk to the council." I explained when everyone turned to look at me in expectation.

"Was there any news on Percy?" Annabeth asked to which I shook my head.

"No but that means nothing he could still be stuck in DOA studios waiting for Charon to stop being a dick, now that he has had a raise, he demands bigger things before letting souls thro…." I was interrupted when Hedge jumped down and trotted towards us.

"No time for talking now cupcakes, we got company." He said before pointing at the mountain where the distant figures could be seen moving, towards us.

"No, no, no not yet we are not ready." Piper said hysterically grabbing onto Jason.

"It will be alright; the gods will be here before them." I said reassuringly but I can't say I was believing my words at the moment to which the daughter of Aphrodite replied with a smile. Standing up straight before pulling out her dagger and looking towards the cluster of giants thundering towards us, with determination in place of fear in her eyes. Perhaps my father was right, maybe I was a natural leader.

"Everyone get ready, check your weapons, grab some food and water, we got five minutes max before they get here, we just have to pray to the gods, that they get here first." I ordered to which everyone burst into motion.

"Annabeth I am going to need you to keep a cool head, you are now the strongest fighter we have. I don't want you losing in chasing vengeance you know what they say about digging two graves." I told her but the cold, dead look in those grey eyes of hers were not reassuring me.

"Nico, I know but Porphyrion is mine." She said before silently walking off to get a drink.

"Percy where are you?" I asked into the air hoping for an answer.

(Annabeth)

When Nico returned with the news, I was glad that we stood a chance again as long as the two gods could get the rest to help. At least we had one god definitely coming to help, though Hestia said she would help with convincing the Olympians. She never did any fighting being a peaceful goddess, with Hades though at least it was one of the big three. I now however had the slightest of hopes for Percy after Nico's statement that he was not in the underworld at the moment which left the question of where was he? Was he trapped or captured perhaps with gods we could find him?

After a few minutes the giants came into verbal range in a line abreast showing us the enormous figures of 10 giants between 20 and forty feet in height all armed with huge spears as long as telegraph poles and a few bows.

"Well, hello there demigods, it is nice to see you are here to witness our victory." Porphyrion said arrogantly but the bass of his voice made it sound like hurricane was talking.

"The only thing I will see is your head mounted on a spear!" I spat back at the giant king, here was Percy's killer and he wanted to exchange pleasantries, over my dead body.

"Well, that is not very nice, but then how do you plan on doing that child of Athena? We both know that you need a gods help to kill any one of us and yet you seem a bit of a supply problem when it comes to them. Unless you think that pony is a threat to any one of us?" The king joked causing his siblings to laugh.

"That may be but we will see what the future brings, while we waste time here Hades should be fetching them here any moment now." There was really no harm in telling him about it, we were trying to stall for time anyway.

"Come now girl, do you honestly think Zeus will listen to his brother and come here? The problems at your camps have thrown the Olympians into disarray. With one simple action by the child of Hephaestus, admittedly carried out by a simple Eidolon and we incapacitated Olympus. That was always my plan they were never going to be here; my plans never fail!" My mother's bane Enceladus said mockingly.

"Well, what about on Mount Diablo then, we defeated you then!" Jason replied to the giant pointing his Imperial Gold Spear at him.

"Are you sure about that? I was only there to buy time for my brother to rise using Hera's energy and after that I retreated, you just gave me an escape route when you blew the crater. What you should have done was be a real 'hero' and make sure first rather than gloat with your friends at my perceived defeat." Enceladus replied making Jason grimace at his failure to kill him.

"And now is the time for my plan to come to its conclusion, once we kill you we will rip this whole damned mountain apart and the Olympians with it, our time has come. The earth mother demands it.' Enceladus concluded before raising his spear followed by his brothers.

"The time of the gods is at an end as it should have been before, there is a new age coming and our mother doesn't want you in it." Porphyrion said before lunging at Jason.

The spear was just about to strike the son of Jupiter before he could respond, when a flash of gold flew past and grabbed the spear right out of the giant king's hand.

All heads turned at once to whatever it was that flew past. Only to see an enormous mass of golden fur turn around revealing the figure of a fully grown Nemean Lioness with a figure on its back.

"Well, that wasn't very nice, you could have at least waited for me, or were you scared I would kick your asses too like Polybotes!" The black-haired figure shouted at the dazed giant and my heart began to pound faster as I saw those familiar sea-green eyes.

"Now the next one to try and touch my friends will end up like this." He said before Nemea bit clean through the enormous spear before spitting the pieces out.

"Now we can settle this nicely and you all go back to Tartarus on your own. Or me and my friends are going to kick your ass with the gods help and make your mother stay asleep." Percy threatened eyes locked on the giants before Nemea walked towards us claws bared.

"Jackson you may have survived the crash but you still can't kill us, your gods have abandoned you, you may be strong but we are invincible' Enceladus boomed with confidence, only to stop when Percy began to laugh on the lioness's back.

"You may be the 'smart' giant but apparently that does not mean much. If there is one thing, I have learned over the years it is that no one is invincible. Believe me I know from experience and your foolish brothers Alcyoneus and Antaeus claimed the same the same, everyone has a weakness." Percy retorted coldly.

"Truly spoken but you still lack what is needed and we are well aware of your recent dip in the Styx and given time we will find your weak spot. But not before we make you watch the others die first." Enceladus threatened coldly not seeing the eye-rolling that Percy was doing in response.

"Given time yes, but I am afraid that is the one thing you no longer have on your side." Percy said with a glint in his golden eyes before a series of golden flashes appeared in front of us.'

(Percy)

When the flash concluded in front of us were the majority of the Olympians, not all unfortunately but our parents with Apollo and Artemis at least now giving us 9 gods to counter 10 Giants.

"Hello there, did we miss something?" Hades asked a smirk on his pale face.

"It makes no difference we will beat you; you know that fate is not on your side." Porphyrion replied with a snarl only for us all to be blinded by another flash of light. Revealing the figures of three old decrepit ladies alongside Jupiter.

"Oh, I don't know about that, my sisters and me never did like your mother." One of the Three Fates replied before her form shifted revealing a much younger woman in armour holding a bronze cudgel, her sisters also following suit and changed until all three looked and were equipped the same. It was an unexpected bit of assistance for sure but I was not going to be complaining. Then again, I think they helped last time as well, if I remembered something Annabeth said about the first war.

"It does not matter in a few hours our mother shall rise and you shall all fall." Porphyrion stated before stamping his foot angrily summoning another spear from earth and pointing it at Jupiter, the others following suit. Each of the giants levelled their weapons at their godly counterparts where applicable and the fates combined.

Jupiter against Porphyrion, Apollo against Leon the lion headed Giant, Artemis against the hunter Gration, Vulcan versus Mimas, Mars against Pelorus, Minerva vs. Enceladus, The Fates vs. Thoon, Aphrodite against Typhoeus, Hades vs Pallas, Poseidon vs Hippolytus.

"Quick everyone go help your parents, Nemea help Apollo, Hazel you and Arion help Lady Artemis, your father cannot accept your help. Hopefully The Fates will have to be fine." I shouted leaping off Nemea in a backflip before walking beside my father to face down Hippolytus Riptide and Trident versus Spear.

The battle began when Mimas reacted to Leo setting himself on fire causing the giant of the forge to lunge forward only to be stopped by a Roman shield that unpacked in Vulcan's hand while an enormous maul appeared in his right hand. Swiftly Vulcan swung it around to strike the giant on the hip staggering him back. All the while Leo ran past his father's aspect to swing his smaller hammers at the giant's legs only to be stopped by the giant's spear.

Leo stepped back and reached into his belt pulling out a vial of Greek fire before throwing it at the giant who simply caught it before crushing the vial between his fingers smothering the green flames.

"Foolish demigod, I was born to fight your father I have the same powers as h—." The giant said only to be hit by a shield to the chest and fall onto his butt as Vulcan grew to his own godly size.

"Aye that you may but we something you don't, our children." Vulcan said before transforming his maul into a Roman Pilum and driving it through his counterpart's chest and into the ground below. The giant howling at his injury.

"Now lad finish him." The god said before grabbing his son and throwing the blazing boy up onto the giant's chest, where he grabbed the Pilum causing the soft metal to melt and flow inside the giant, flash boiling its heart. The Latino fell backwards as the dying giant thrashed about in pain only to be caught by his father who reverted back to his Greek form as they watched the giant crumble.

"You did good lad, now let's go help the others." The smith god said before the two turned to find the other battles.

Me and my father were fighting the anti-Hermes when something became abundantly clear he may have been the smallest of the assembled giants. But he was also easily the fastest and moved in a way that was not reflective of his stature every time we went to strike at him, he would simply dodge before the blow would strike before attacking the other.

The problem was we needed to slow him down but without him tiring or us injuring him it was just not happening anytime soon.

"Dad, do you trust me?" I asked ducking under a spear sweep.

"Of course, Perseus, why?" He replied with concern parrying the follow up thrust towards his own throat.

"Because I am about to do something you may not like." I said turning back towards him with my eyes gold as I slowed time for the giant, so he appeared like he was moving in slow motion. My father and I thrust our weapons through the giant's chest before I returned him to ordinary time. For an uncomfortable few seconds, the three of us all stood still before the Giant realised his situation and promptly collapse into dust.

"Perseus what was that?" My father asked his voice full of concern.

"Something I will explain when we have time but don't tell the others." I asked.

"Very well but we will talk about that power but Apollo appears to need our help finishing Leon." My father promised before we raced to the blazing archer's side.

We arrived to find a Lion-headed giant being crushed by a three-ton Lioness while several hundred golden arrows stuck out of his mane and limbs. The giant's spear was snapped in half underneath him and his only form of fighting back against Nemea was his bow firmly wedged between her teeth. Even so she continued to drive her claws through his breastplate as Ichor flowed up out of the rents and from his mouth. Apollo's Roman aspect had meanwhile simply decided to sit back and watch the situation with some amusement on his face while resting his bow against his shoulder.

The god of the Sun turned to me with a dazzling smile.

"I tell you what Perce, that is one badass kitty you have. Old lion head here didn't know what hit him. I wish all monsters were this great perhaps we could use them to fight our wars for us in the future but the big shiny kitty needs our help to finish her new chew toy.' He said before unslinging his bow and notching a trio of golden arrows and aiming them at the only piece of exposed giant under the golden lioness, his head was contorted in a grimace at the weight on his chest before he focused on us looking down at him weapons at the ready.

"Just like you gods, always getting someone else to fight your battles for you." He spat indicating the lioness on his chest.

"Oh please, you're just annoyed she turned you down when you asked her out." Apollo joked as he fired the arrows into his forehead. Stepping forward I finished him off with a stab to the eye, driving my sword into his brain. Collapsing through the disintegrating Giant Nemea now covered in an extra layer of golden dust, let out a roar of satisfaction.

"Good girl." I said stroking her muzzle once she was finished.

"Seriously though, she kicked his ass I just sat back and fired arrows to stave off boredom." The god said before pulling out a pair of shades and looking pleased with himself. Despite in his own words doing basically nothing.

"Cut the crap nephew and go and help someone." My father ordered to which the younger god grumbled before throwing his bow over his shoulder and sprinting in the direction of clashing lightning.

We both turned to look around and check on the others Leo and his father were done with Mimas and were now helping Hades and Nico, Jason and his father were still fighting Porphyrion with lightning striking everywhere as the three clashed but with Apollo going that way, they should be fine which left The Fates, Minerva, and Aphrodite and Artemis and Mars.

Now of the other five fights, the Fates seemed quite happy beating the crap out Thoon with their cudgels, as he could do little ought but cower on the floor under their blows. Annabeth and Minerva seemed to be struggling as for some reason Minerva seemed to be refusing to fight and would only dodge and throw insults while Annabeth basically fought Enceladus on her own, but no matter what she did it was pointless if her mother refused to act. The only good news was that with Annabeth effectively invulnerable it made the fight a stalemate.

Aphrodite and Piper seemed to be fine on their end as they used their charm to daze the giant before striking with their knives. I had never expected Aphrodite to be that much of a fighter, but the lastborn child of Ouranos seemed to be blur of pink armour, as I watched as she stabbed Typhoeus in the groin. Mars and Frank had Pelorus on the ropes it seemed the archer and swordfighter combo seemed to working great against the spear wielding giant as they were either too close to attack effectively or too far away to attack without leaving Pelorus weapon less and easy pray for the god of war.

The last battle seemed to be a tie as the hunters seemed to match each other, Gration would shrug of the goddess's arrows and prevent Arion getting close by slamming his foot into the ground causing the horse god to stumble before lunging with his spear to which they would be forced to retreat.

This game of cat and mouse continued until Gration got in a lucky strike across Arion's flank and breaking Hazel's legs as they were both knocked to the floor a distance away, Artemis distracted the giant but she would need help now that Hazel was going nowhere.

Of the two fights that were in trouble one was in need of a mortal and the other needed a god.

"Dad, I need you to go and help Annabeth, there is something wrong with Minerva. I need to go help Artemis, Hazel and Arion are down." I commanded taking stock of the situation.

"Why should I go help the know it all, she would kill me if I helped her." My father protested causing me to pause and grip Riptides pommel tightly.

"Dad, you have to stop with that stupid grudge before something happens that both of you will regret, Annabeth needs help do it for me. Athena wants to complain about it, she can take it up with me." I argued back unable to believe he would bring that up now. Poseidon looked at me before nodding and running towards that pair, while I mounted Nemea and we bounded towards Gration and Artemis.

As we approached the fighting, I noticed that with the close-range threat neutralized, the pair had taken to firing volleys of arrows at each other. The giant's arrows were the size of spears which the goddess would nimbly dodge before firing back with her own silver ones which had little effect on the giants hide. Unfortunately for the goddess she also had to cover for the injured party laying nearby.

"Nemea go help Hazel and Arion get to safety." I told her as I hurriedly dismounted and went to the Huntress while Nemea went to protect the injured duo.

"I see you require some assistance my lady." I said running to her side before blocking an arrow with my shield, the force of the great arrow making me step back even as it bounced off the black metal surface.

"Good to see you too boy. This fool still thinks I am going to marry him." She said basically spitting the final words out. The scowl on her face not matching well with her childlike appearance.

"Well then we should tell him, that it is rude to not realize when a lady is clearly not interested in pursuing a relationship with someone.' I joked back earning a rare smile from the silver eyed goddess even as she leaned around me a fired a pair of arrows at our opponent.

"I like the way you think Perseus, if you were a girl, you would have been welcome to join the Hunt." She replied with a chuckle.

"Unfortunately, I am not and my girlfriend wouldn't be too happy if I swore off relationships." I said back while dodging another arrow.

"Such a shame, now how do you plan on killing this fool, last time myself and Heracles simply shot him in the heart at the same time with arrows. With you though that is clearly not happening." She said before firing an arrow hitting the giant just above the heart almost as if to say see look how easy it is. Unfortunately, there was not a hope in hades of me pulling a shot like that off.

"Ok, there is one thing that fool can do better than me, other than be a treacherous jackass, doesn't mean you have to bring it up." I protested weakly.

"Well at least you are humble enough to admit it, do you have any ranged weapons or do you only have a sword?" The goddess asked looking at the blade in my hand.

"Thanks, and yes I have a spear, why?" I asked confused.

"Can you actually hit something with it?" She asked mockingly before smiling. Come to think of it the girl in front of me was actually quite cute when she smiled. Not that I was ever telling her that.

"Well sure I haven't practiced much, I only got it recently but I have yet to miss anything with it." I stated indignantly.

"Good because I want you to use it on Gration while I take aim at his heart, while he is distracted then you need to close in on him and finish this." She explained simply. It was a simple plan but frankly compared to some schemes Annabeth had this was much more my style.

"Sure, I can do that." I said before sheathing Riptide and drawing my spear which expanded in my hand. I ducked under another arrow before taking aim at the forest green coloured giant aiming for chest before taking a pair of steps forward and throwing it over my head as hard as I could. The blow striking high and plunging into the giants neck the whole length in his throat causing the giant to gag and his eyes to bulge as he flailed around at the three meters of flaming Imperial gold burning his insides. Artemis stepped past me before firing a volley of arrows one after the other all striking the Giants Torso. Heart, lungs, stomach all had been pierced by the silver arrows combined with the golden spear imbedded in him he giant started to crumble into dust.

I stepped back and looked at Artemis who was regarding me as well.

"Not bad for a man. Where did you get that spear? No normal weapons should have that much power to incapacitate and pierce a giant's body with a single blow." She asked looking at the spear embedded now in the Greek soil surrounded by dust and fallen arrows.

"I acquired it while in Tartarus, along with some other toys." I said indicating the black shield in my left hand. Walking over I pulled the spear out of the ground and it collapsed back into its baton form.

"Also, you called me a man, rather than boy like you do others, why is that?" I asked taken back by the compliment from the goddess.

"Simple because you are worthy of respect, Thalia likes you, Zoe liked you and you modest and honest rare things to be seen in males. Although you are right about Heracles apart from archery you are a far greater hero. But everyone must have their flaws else they get conceited. But know that this is the second time I have been glad to fight at your side." She said proudly. I was about to say something about how Zoe was a greater hero than me when I heard my father cry out in pain and I ran towards him followed by Artemis, I felt reassured to know the goddess had my back as I ran towards my next battle.

(Annabeth)

When the battle had started, everyone had started to inevitably separate and go their own ways to fight their personal conflicts while myself and my mother's psycho aspect stayed where we had begun. I was hoping my mother's statues presence would calm her down or maybe force her to change aspect but all she seemed to want to do was sit back and scream insults about Rome and how she would get revenge now that she had it back while spending her free time from dodging Enceladus studying the Athena Parthenos for any signs of damage.

All the while I was stuck battling a twenty-feet high, spear wielding lizard man who to top it off also breathed fire. Without the curse of Achilles, I would have been dead long before as he had managed to hit me a few times with the spear in the chest throwing me backwards before resuming his attack on my mother who didn't seem to care about the current conflict going on around her. This attitude really hurt me inside as I hated to see my proud mother reduced to this rambling hate filled creature because of an act 2000 years old, I wished I could do something to stop her prejudice but now was really not the time

As I continued to battle him solo, I caught glimpses of the others battles and saw they were going far better. Percy had just finished off Apollo's foe, Leo had finished his and was assisting Nico when I saw Hazel get hit and fall. I was noticing this when a spear was thrust at my head forcing me to hit the dirt to avoid it, Enceladus immediately followed with a torrent of flames from his mouth which were about to immolate me, when a wall of water rose in front of me before evaporating into steam.

I stood and turned expecting to find Percy but came face to face with the armoured figure of the lord of the sea himself trident held in two hands pointing at the giant.

"How about you try and attack someone who fights back." The sea god shouted at the giant who regarded him with calculating eyes.

"I see another of my brothers failed if you are here, but I am curious why you are so keen on defending your rival, I was at the understanding you hated each other." The giant asked curiously stroking his chin with his free hand.

"We don't hate each other so much as respectfully acknowledge the others short comings, she is not that bad for a know it all, plus she is family and family look out for each other." He said before taking a look at me when he said the last line only to fail to notice that Enceladus saw him do so with narrowed eyes as he began to plan.

"Very well then, let us see if I can do what Polybotes never got a chance to do and kill you." He said before charging at the sea god.

Just as he was closing in though he changed direction and breathed fire at me, I closed my eyes and raised my daggers but knew they would never stop the incoming inferno nor would the curse as the flames would find my mortal point even if I couldn't.

Just as I was expecting the blast there was a flash of light followed by nothing and I risked opening my eyes to find the smoking figure of Poseidon in front of me, his armour partially melted and his skin blackened with golden ichor leaking from the blistered skin before he cried out in pain and collapsed.

The giant seemed quite happy with this before straightening up and walking towards my mother who was sitting with her back to him staring at the statue as if in meditation. I ran towards the giant only to be casually knocked away by the butt of his spear landing a dozen feet away only to see him stand behind my mother and raise his spear above his head.

I knew I had one chance to save her in time I just had to hope it worked as I ran towards the sitting figure that remained oblivious of the threat behind her. Enceladus smirked before bringing the spear straight down towards my mother's neck, only for my body to tackle hers just in time and knock her out of the way. However, the blow continued to drop and hitting me in the base of the neck before beginning to slide down my back over each of my vertebrae before suddenly for the first time in days I felt physical pain as his spear found my weak point and broke the skin. Yet even as I screamed, I realised I suddenly I couldn't feel anything from below my arms as the spear had severed my spinal cord and I went limp. I could not even feel as the weapon was being drawn out, I only knew it had when it was used to flip me onto my back. So I could see the smiling giant staring down at me, before raising the blood-stained weapon again pointing at me ready to finish me off before it fell.

(Percy)

I wish I could rewind time and stop the attack that struck Annabeth but I was too late to do anything. I had seen the point of the Enceladus's spear strike her neck and bounce off initially before it passed down her back. All I could do was watch in horror, as it pierced her flesh pinning her to the floor. Before being ripped out by the giant, her blood dripping onto the grass as the giant flipped her onto her back and raised his spear again.

My mind went blank as I ran as hard as I could, leaving Artemis behind me as I did so. All I could focusing all my energy slowing time around me and especially the two in front stopping the strike from coming even if only by a little. Just as I reached the pair, I drew Maelstrom by hitting the watch as I ran before leaping the last half a dozen yards and swinging the blade as I did so. Catching Enceladus unaware at my sudden arrival and severing the giant's hand at the wrist, causing the weapon to fall harmlessly to the ground. The giants fist still enclosed around the shaft as it hit the floor before disintegrating. The wounded giant stumbled back and began to flee all the while holding the stump in shock at the sudden amputation, not that I cared I was more focused on the pool of blood gathering around my girlfriend as I instead ran over to her without concern for anything else.

What I saw up close was worse than I could have ever imagined from where I had been. Annabeth was a bloody mess, the large spear had passed straight through her, leaving a large hole where her back and lower stomach had been. However, she was still alive but her breathing was shallow and ragged and blood coming from her mouth.

"Annabeth look at me, you are going to be fine. Apollo will be to heal you up. You are not going to die." I said embracing the wounded girl whilst trying to be reassuring even as tears began to form in my eyes.

"Per-Percy you know as well as I d-do I am not sur-viving this. It was al-way going to happen, Arac-ne swore an oath, my fate was seal-d from the begin-ing, that is why Styx would not tell – tell me my weak-oint, it would only work once we reached this po—point, to die defending a lo-ved one" She croaked weakly, as Minerva came over as if finally noticing that something had happened three feet behind her before looking down at her dying daughter.

"What have I done, am I so blinded by hatred that it costs me my children all for an ancient promise of revenge against the Romans." She said with golden tears forming o her face as she regarded the dying figure before her as the physical cost of her hatred became apparent. For two thousand years she had cursed her own children to search for and die looking for the accursed statue with no regard for them and finally when one had found it for her, she had instead been so focused on making sure it was undamaged she didn't even notice the people fighting to protect her a few meters away.

"It is n-not you- fault mo-ther we are all cursed by our pr—de even you are not above it." Annabeth rasped before coughing up some more blood onto the soil, the blood pool starting to flow towards her head colouring her blond hair.

"No, you are wrong, it is entirely her fault she let herself fall into this sorry state because of the loss of a mere title, others were forgotten completely and faded but they did so with dignity. She was still worshipped and prayed to as an Olympian but that was never good enough for Minerva. All because she lost her precious war domain and look where it has got us. Two thousand years of her own children's suffering and death to find her trinket." Artemis spat at the goddess while carrying the limping figure of my father leaving the other goddess too shocked to speak.

"Percy, you have to pr-promise me you won't sp-spend your life mor-mourning me." she stuttered out weakly before looking back at me with her grey eyes into mine.

"Annabeth, I love you with all my heart, how am I meant to live without you?" I sobbed back to her holding her tightly in my arms.

"Live for the oth-others and the fu-future we shou-d have had." She said her eyes becoming weary and unfocused.

"But I don't want to live without you!" I shouted angrily causing Artemis to turn away and give us privacy.

"You must Percy, do i-it for me, and rem-ber I will al-ays love you." She said before her eyes closed one last time.

I continued to hold her in my arms completely oblivious to the world around me, because as far as I was concerned it was all meaningless now. The Giants, Gaia, the gods all of it was irrelevant the only thing that mattered to me had just died in my arms, asking me to live on without her. I couldn't help but let out a hysterical scream due to the pain in my heart, as I had to find a way of releasing all of my contained sorrow. For what felt like eternity that was all I could do, only to feel a pair of arms grab me from behind in a hug bringing me back to reality.

"Perseus, I know you are in pain but you must honour her words and live on for the rest of us, we need you to save us. She knew that and that is why you must live." Artemis said softly into my ear her head resting on my shoulder and her arms around my chest tightly.

After a few more moments, Minerva seemed to recover from Artemis's scathing verbal attack and focused on the body in my arms.

"Perseus, please give me her body." The goddess asked tearfully.

I continued to hold Annabeth tightly not wanting to be separated from my love no matter what.

'Perseus, I know what you are feeling and it is simply refusal to accept the facts, I am aware of that now more than anything, it was that refusal to accept that cost me my sanity. I refused to accept the loss of responsibility and it continued to affect those that were closest to me. Now it has cost me my favourite daughter as well all because I was too blind to see my own stubborn pride." The goddess said before stroking a stray hair from Annabeth's face.

"Now Perseus I need you to pass me her body there is something I must do; Annabeth swore an oath against Porphyrion when she believed you had died and due to the Styx that broken oath will cost her the afterlife unless you let me help her." The goddess said before looking at me with sincerity on her face and I began to loosen my grip on Annabeth's chest and likewise feeling Artemis loosen her grip on me in kind.

"Perseus please lay her body at the foot of the statue." The goddess said softly leading the way and indicating the position.

Softly I proceeded to pick her delicate body up in the bridal position and walked towards the giant effigy. My father and Artemis remaining behind watching while Minerva waited ahead of me staring at her daughter's body until I finally laid her at the base of the statue and looked at her before speaking for the first time since she had died.

"What, what do you need to do to help her?" I asked tearfully whilst finally letting go of the girl.

"I will combine what is left of her essence with my statue and she will be able to inhabit it for a time, enough to finish what was started." She explained before sitting opposite the statue with Annabeth's body between them as she began to utter an incantation too quietly for me to hear.

After a minute, Minerva finished her chant with a clap of her hands before she was engulfed in light to bright to see through forcing me to close my eyes until it faded. When I opened them Minerva and Annabeth's body were gone and the statue had changed slightly. The ivory skin now had a pinker more natural tint to it, the medusa on the shields face seemed more realistic and I could have sworn the snakes moved slightly, the golden robes had been replaced with golden Greek armour and where the smaller effigy of Nike had stood in the right hand an enormous spear now stood. The final difference was in the past the statues hair had been carved ivory but now it was long blond strands just like Annabeth had, I knew this was a result of Annabeth's essence combining with Minerva and the Athena Parthenos itself to create the new figure.

I was still studying the figure when it suddenly took a step forward and dropped of its platform causing a minor tremor as the heavy weight settled before it proceeded to role its shoulders and flex its limbs as if testing them out before it turned its head towards me and I felt Minerva's voice in my head.

'The ritual worked, we have maybe an hour at most for Annabeth to complete her oath before Lady Styx claims her soul, unfortunately she is unable to talk in this form like all ancient Statues and Automaton's but when this over I will relay any final words you have. All I can offer is my apologies and accept the responsibility for this happening, I am sorry." She said before the statue began to move onward towards the wounded figure of Enceladus who was slowly recovering while failing to hide from view it seemed his new hand had only half formed and was still lacking any fingers.

The giant soon noticed the large figure bearing down on him with shock, which was not surprising. After all the living statue was forty feet high to his twenty and he was injured. However, this did not stop him summoning a new spear and placing it in his intact hand and pointing it at the approaching figure who responded in kind by pointing hers back the length of the weapon easily out doing the giants who remained uneasy evidently, he had never considered this in his elaborate plans, just like me surviving the crash. This was another anomaly that was going to bite him on the ass.

The giant proceeded to project fire at the figure only for it to raise its shield and block the blast with no damage before he lunged with his spear only to watch as the statue swept it downwards with its shield so the point struck the floor before an enormous sandaled foot came down on the shaft and snapped it in two. However, the statue gave him no chance to react as it raised its own spear and thrust it right through the giant's chest and back causing Ichor to flow. I was about to help finish the dying giant when he collapsed on his own and I realized that the statue contained the essences of a mortal demigod and a goddess and as such was fully capable of killing giants on its own. The statue then turned towards the three of us standing there watching before pointing at the others, subtlely telling us there was still a battle to fight and I rushed back with Artemis, leaving my father behind because of his wounds as we went to help Frank and Mars while it headed towards the Lord of the Dead and Nico.

(Nico)

The battle between me, my father and now Vulcan and Leo against Pallas was a mixed affair after all he was the bane of battle born to fight Athena and Ares. The giant bore his weapon with savage ferocity and easily swept away the legions of undead my father and I summoned while blocking any blows with a shield the size of a sedan, that any of us could throw at him. The problem was he had far greater reach than our swords with his spear and the few blows we could inflict on him did very little in the way of hurt him our stygian iron weapons doing little damage strangely. Even after others arrived very little would change Leo would throw fire at him which he would ignore generally and Vulcan would strike with his Maul only to strike against the giants shield and be thrown back.

This battle of attrition seemed to rage forever as he remained unable to hit our smaller figures, while we were unable to inflict a serious injury on him.

Then I felt something I knew all too well, the sensation of a close death and I knew one of my friends had been killed but I didn't know who. As I tried to focus on my powers and work out the identity of the fallen the giant must have noticed my distractedness and launched a strike at me after avoiding a lunge from my father's sword that should have impaled his chest instead, he was able to jump over Hades before thrusting his spear into the earth at my feet and flicking me into the sky where he caught me in his enormous hands.

"Well then, now that I have your son Hades, I think we should end this don't you think. After all you would not want him to get hurt, would you?" The giant threatened to my father whilst giving me a squeeze causing me to cry out in pain.

"Drop my son giant or I will return you to Tartarus and my servants will torture you forever, even in the pit your father will not be able to protect you from my wrath if you so much as touch another hair on that boy's head." My father growled menacingly as shadows begin to collect around him.

"And how exactly do you plan to return me to the pit? You have been unable to hurt me all battle even with this one's help and theirs over there, it took Athena to kill me before but Enceladus is dealing with that goddess as we speak as she refuses to fight."

"Oh, I don't know but if only Athena can defeat you then you might have a serious problem." He said with a smile appearing on his normally scowling face as the shadows all disappeared. I wanted to shout for him to help but I was cut off as an enormous spear was suddenly thrust through the giant's abdomen below me from behind and easily clearing the next ten feet beyond as well, before being wrenched out with a sickening pop causing the giant to stumble and fall as well as dropping me. I was worried about the fall and being crushed by the giant but a shadow appeared below me and transported me to my father's side who grabbed me in a hug for the first time. I had to admit it was strange to see him act compassionately for once but we together we turned back to the battle only to find it was ending.

Pallas was trying to rise to his feet when an enormous sandalled foot came down on his back and flattened him to the floor spread eagled and I looked up to see to the gleaming golden armour of what was undoubtedly the Athena Parthenos but there was something about it that made me feel uneasy. It was the energy I was detecting from inside the statue there were two sources one was definitely an immortal but the other seemed to be dying at a steady rate and that was before I saw its face and gasped.

Suddenly I knew what had happened before and who had died and I was saddened because she had always been like an older sister to me always helping Percy to look out for me but now, she was gone. All that remained was her animus inside the statue being held in stasis for the moment but nevertheless still slowly fading away. The giant roared in anger only to be cut off when a spear was thrust through his throat and twisted before ripping his head clean off and his body dissolving.

The statue remained mute before pointing at the clashing lightning in the distance and setting off in giant paces. The four of us looked at each other confused before shrugging and following it at a more leisurely pace the fight had taken a lot out of us after all.

(Frank)

My father and I had been doing well against Pelorus but the giant had thick black armour around his chest that shrugged of all of attacks preventing us from landing a mortal blow because the giants throat and neck were simply too high as he was easily one of the larger giant's second only to Porphyrion it seemed at a colossal 45 feet high.

My father had shifted into his Greek aspect which surprised me at first because I had never met Ares and was unprepared for the biker leather wearing god alongside me, the only concession to practicality in a fight seemed to be a bullet proof vest and a long two-handed bronze blade in his hand.

"That fools armour is made out of Adamantium, I took it from him last time I defeated him our weapons are ineffective against it just like that punk Jackson's new shield." He said spitting out Percy's name before taking a lump out of the giant's knee with an overhead swing. Now even after assuming his godly height he was still only able to hit that high normally which seemed ridiculous from a distance as I continued to fire arrows at the giant.

I was ready to fire an arrow at the giant when I felt two presences behind me causing me to panic and turn arrow still notched only to see Artemis and I relaxed only to forget about the arrow and accidentally firing it in her direction.

The arrow proceeded to fly towards the goddess's throat when suddenly it seemed to slow down before Percy was able to get in the path of it shield raised to stop it but that was impossible, he had been standing ten meters away how could he have moved that quickly when even a goddess had not been able to react.

As it was the two continued to approach, Percy only stopping to retrieve my arrow before they reached me. Now I had stories about Diana's treatment of men in the past who had wronged her and was surprised when all I got was a slap before she drew her bow and started to fire at the giant what did surprise me was the look of shear wrath on Percy's face all signs of his normal smile were gone only steely determination and by the looks of it he had been crying but I didn't know why he walked past me only to thrust the arrow at me before continuing to walk towards the figures of my father and Pelorus fighting. I thought nothing to do about it now before standing alongside the goddess and notching arrow after arrow at the giant.

(Percy)

When I approached, the duelling figures I could see the gleaming black breastplate and could see what the problem was clearly, Adamantium. After all I was holding a shield of it in my left hand from stopping Frank's clumsy arrow. Which meant for us to defeat the giant it had to go.

"We have to get rid of his armour." I said to the sweating war god when I arrived alongside him

"I don't need you to tell me how to fight my battles for me punk, I beat him before I c-an –" He was cut off by the wrathful glare I was giving him.

"Listen here Ares, my girlfriend is dead, I am extremely pissed off and you're being a dick is getting us nowhere. So how about you shut the fuck up and listen." I said calmly to the silenced figure in front of me who finally nodded.

"Right now, listen. I do have a way to cut through his armour. I need you to wait until I create an opening before you attack his heart, do you understand. However, right now I need your help to get as high as I can on that bastard's body." I said calmly before slinging my shield on my back and drawing Maelstrom getting a hiss of surprise from the god.

"Ares you need to throw me up at him and I will buy you an opening." I ordered the still staring god who shook his head before grabbing the back of my neck and my legs in his hands. before throwing me under and over towards the confused giant who tried and failed to swat me out of the air. I held Maelstrom before me in both hands as it plunged into his collarbone. The giant roared in shock and pain and began to thrash around causing the blade with my weight attached to saw downwards, quickly enough I was passing his chest and stomach the Titan blade cutting giant flesh and armour easily while the giant continued to make my job easier until I saw I was free of his armour and I using my legs for bracing I pulled the blade out, dropping to the floor on all fours.

I looked back up to see the giant had a long ragged cut down his entire left abdomen and creating a flapping hole in his armour through which his breast was visible.

"Ares get ready to attack, Frank, Artemis I need you to blind him a second." All three nodded before the archers fired arrow after arrow into the giants face with several finding their mark, causing the giant to raise his hand to his face. The motion caused the levered halves of his breastplate to separate leaving a hole about two feet wide. This was what I was hoping for, I slung Maelstrom over my back before drawing my shield and swinging it two-handed with as much force I could muster in my rage filled state at the giant's ankle causing a sickening snap to happen as the giant's leg gave way causing him to fall on his back.

"Ares get him now." I ordered and watched as the god ran forwards and leapt onto the giants fallen frame before morphing his sword into a familiar double barrel shotgun before emptying both barrels into the giants' heart.

"Finish him Punk!" He said too me but without the usual edge and I ran up next to him on the giant's body and redrawing Maelstrom and plunging it into the giant's buckshot filled heart and causing him to writhe before finally going still and collapsing leaving the pair of us standing in a giant shaped figure of golden dust.

"Not bad kid, but you have got to tell me where I can get one of those swords that was awesome." The war god acknowledge before shifting back to Mars.

"You are a warrior worthy of respect" The Roman god said before saluting 'Ave.'

I turned to look around the battlefield again to find that the Athena Parthenos had finished Nico and Hades opponent The Fates had got bored with beating Thoon and had killed him, Piper and Aphrodite had amazing finished their opponent with no help from any others which just left Porphyrion. I noticed that everyone seemed to be making their way towards the battling figures of Jupiter, Jason, Apollo and Porphyrion where there was a constant barrage of lights as bolts of lightning were striking everywhere occasionally matched by a blast of sunlight when Apollo answered in kind. Of all the figures approaching the battle the closest was easily the walking statue apparently adamant on finishing what it started and claiming the giant king's head.

"We need to get there now." I said indicating the distant battle to the two gods who nodded before grabbing hold of us Mars/Frank and Artemis/me before suddenly I felt a flash of light and my stomach lurch and my surrounding shifted.

Where there had once been lush green countryside there was now a smoking wasteland that look reminiscent of First World War battlefields. The lightning had blasted deep craters into the ground not that it bothered the combatants too much, they were all floating several feet of the floor weapons still levelled. The giant king had a few cuts here and there bleeding Ichor but our side was looking rather worse for wear. Apollo's hair was standing on end like he had been electrocuted and his golden armour was blackened, Jason had a broken arm hanging limply to one side from being caught by a swing of the giant's spear causing him to crash through a small tree. Jupiter seemed to barely holding himself in the air the King of the Gods was simply exhausted not before firing another blast with the masterbolt only for Porphyrion to raise his spear and redirect it at the countryside creating another crater.

"Foolish god when will you realize that you cannot harm me with your foolish bolts, you couldn't in the past and you can't now all you are doing is feeding energy to my mother causing her to awaken faster." The giant king gloated receiving a look of horror from the god in question.

Around us I could see the others watching the exchange most with looks of uncertainty at the pitiful actions Zeus had managed to inflict so far on his counterpart.

"Perhaps when this is over, I shall find your wife and marry her as you don't seem to want her anymore". The giant mocked causing Zeus to fire another bolt slightly larger this time in his anger but still getting the same result as before earning a frustrated growl.

The giant turned to notice the rest of us assembled watching the battle with widening eyes as he noticed the numbers arrayed against him.

'I see that there are several of you missing, where is that fool Poseidon? I was looking forward to beating him and I see that several of you puny demigods are missing maybe I can hope they are dead and that my brothers managed to at least accomplish something today, not that it matters. My mother will rise and destroy you and we will resurrect them all again soon enough." The giant joked happily apparently not concerned about our forces but his words had caused me to take a bone crushing grip on the hilt of Maelstrom still held in my hand and I was about to attack the bastard when someone beat me to it.

The giant statue took off at a run as she charged towards the giant, her sandaled feet sinking into the mud of the ruined battlefield but it was of no concern all that mattered was the figure in front of her. The giant king's eyes widened as he saw the enormous statue bearing down on him preparing an assault and while he was still larger at 50 feet height and several inches off the floor compared to her two feet in it. It looked as if the giant shrunk a little as he sized up the charging figure and raised his spear shooting a bolt of lightning at it. The Parthenos took the bolt on the shield before dropping the large circle of silver and grabbing her spear in both hands and continuing to charge the giant became frantic it seemed and blasted again only for the spear to meet it this time and absorb the shock before being dropped behind in the charge only for the statue to draw two familiar blades.

The Knives had grown in size and were now about four meters in length the intertwined metal radiating power as the statue closed the last dozen feet between itself and the giant who in a panic thrust with the business end of his spear at its throat only to watch in horror as the smaller figure ducked under the shaft and inside his guard. Leaving him no further chance to react before ramming its left-hand knife in the giant king's exposed neck before thrusting the other under his chin and up through his base of his jaw and into his brain before twisting the blades in opposite directions ripping the giants head off with the motions. For a while the giant's body simply stood there unmoving before reality caught up with it and it began to slowly float downwards.

With her revenge achieved the Monolith turned back to face us a smile gracing its face and I couldn't help but feel sad that this was all that was left of my beautiful wise girl now a legacy, one that would last forever in stories but she was now lost to me for ever unless I died.

The moment the giant's truncated corpse hit the ground however, the earth began to shake with ferocity causing everyone but me and Nemea to stumble and fall to the ground. I was immune due to my father's earth shaker powers and Nemea had the advantage of four legs for support.

The quake continued to strike when suddenly a bone chilling scream could be heard coming from below as if the earth was screaming at us, when suddenly earthen hands shot out of the soil and grabbed everyone who was on the ground. Using Maelstrom, I was able to sever the ones that grabbed my ankles and Nemea simply used strength, teeth and claws to rip the hands free at the wrist. Even the floating figures of Jason, Zeus and Apollo were restrained having returned to ground following the Parthenos victory.

I continued to watch in horror as an enormous figure proceeded to rip itself free of the mud where they had been battling and I knew that Porphyrion had been telling the truth he had been using Zeus's energy to awaken Gaia and now she was rising to get her vengeance directly first of all on the one who had killed her son.

I could only watch as the hundred feet high earthen woman reached down and grabbed the fallen statue around the legs and lift it up before crushing them into gravel and letting the crippled figure drop back to the earth, all I thought was that I was seeing Annabeth die again and my mind became a blur.