Hello and welcome back to Under the Silver Moon.

theonedevin- Thank you, I'm glad you like this story, and thank you for reading it.

Roarxd4138- Thank you, welcome to reading this story let me know what you think of this chapter and how you think the story is gonna go from here.

AS ALWAYS I DO NOT OWN PJO or HoO

Chapter 35: Descent Into Darkness

The council chamber was in uproar. Voices clashed against one another, bouncing off the marble walls in a chaotic cacophony. Percy stood at the center, his fists clenched and his mind racing.

"You will not go," Artemis said, her voice sharp and unyielding as she stood across from him. Her silver eyes burned with a rare intensity. "This is my responsibility. My Hunt, my domain."

"And you're too important to risk," Percy shot back. "You're their leader, Artemis. If something happens to you, the Hunt falls apart. Olympus falls apart."

Around them, the gods murmured, some in agreement, others in skepticism. Zeus sat at the head of the chamber, his expression thunderous but unreadable.

"You presume much, boy," Zeus growled. "You think you can enter Tartarus alone and survive?"

"I've done it before," Percy said, his voice firm. He turned to Zeus, meeting the King of the Gods' gaze with unwavering determination. "And I'll do it again."

Artemis stepped forward, her jaw tight. "You don't understand what you're asking, Percy. The thing that stirs in Tartarus—this isn't just another monster to fight. It's a primordial force older than Olympus itself."

"Which is exactly why I need to do this alone," Percy said, turning to her. "If we both go, and we both fall—then what? Olympus can't lose you. The Hunt can't lose you." He hesitated, his voice softening. "I can't lose you."

The room fell silent at his words, the weight of his resolve sinking in.

"You're a fool," Ares muttered, rolling his eyes.

Poseidon finally spoke, his voice calm but firm. "You're certain about this, Percy?"

Percy nodded. "I am."

"And if you fail?" Zeus demanded.

"I won't," Percy said, his voice steely. He glanced at Artemis, his eyes filled with an unspoken promise.

Later, as the moon rose high over Olympus, Percy stood at the edge of the forest where Artemis's Hunt had made camp. He adjusted his backpack, feeling the familiar weight of Riptide in his pocket. The Hunters were gathered nearby, their expressions a mixture of confusion and unease.

"You're really doing this," Thalia said, stepping forward.

"Yeah," Percy replied. "I have to."

Artemis appeared from the shadows, her silver cloak shimmering in the moonlight. She stopped a few paces away from Percy, her expression unreadable.

"You're being reckless," she said, her voice low but firm.

"Maybe," Percy admitted. "But it's the only way. If something happens to me, Olympus will survive. You'll survive. If something happens to you…" He trailed off, unable to finish the thought.

Her gaze softened for a moment, and then she stepped closer. "You can't keep carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders, Percy. You've done enough."

"I haven't done enough," he said, his voice cracking slightly. "Not when you're still in danger."

Artemis was silent for a long moment. Then, to Percy's surprise, she reached out and rested a hand on his arm. "You're a fool," she said softly, but there was no anger in her voice. Only sadness.

"Maybe," he said with a faint smile.

The Hunters began to whisper amongst themselves, but Percy barely noticed. His focus was entirely on Artemis.

"Promise me one thing," she said quietly.

"Anything."

"Come back," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Percy's throat tightened, but he nodded. "I'll try."

With that, he turned and began walking toward the edge of the forest, where the ancient path to Tartarus lay hidden. The air seemed to grow colder with each step, the shadows deepening around him.

As he disappeared into the darkness, Artemis stood still, her gaze fixed on the spot where he had vanished.

Tartarus

The descent into Tartarus was as horrifying as Percy remembered. The air was thick with the stench of rot and despair, the ground uneven and jagged beneath his feet. Shadows writhed around him, whispering threats and promises in languages he couldn't understand.

He tightened his grip on Riptide, the blade glowing faintly in the oppressive darkness. Every step felt heavier than the last, as though the weight of the underworld itself was pressing down on him.

But he kept going. For Artemis. For Olympus.

The path twisted and turned, leading him deeper into the abyss. The whispers grew louder, the shadows more aggressive. At one point, he swore he saw a face in the darkness—something ancient and cruel, its eyes gleaming with malice.

"Keep it together, Jackson," he muttered to himself, forcing his legs to keep moving.

Finally, he reached a clearing, if it could be called that. The ground was a sickly, pulsating red, and the air was filled with the sound of distant screams. In the center of the clearing stood a massive, obsidian gate, its surface covered in ancient runes that seemed to shift and writhe as he looked at them.

This was it. The source of the disturbance.

Percy took a deep breath, tightening his grip on Riptide. "Alright," he said aloud, his voice echoing in the emptiness. "Let's see what you've got."

The gate began to tremble, and the ground beneath him shook violently. Something was coming—something vast and terrible.

But Percy didn't back down. He squared his shoulders, raising Riptide in preparation for the fight of his life.

He might have been alone in Tartarus, but he wasn't fighting just for himself. He was fighting for Artemis, for the Hunt, and for the fragile peace of Olympus.

And he wasn't going to let them down.

Thank you, for reading as always Pls review

I will try to update again this week but no promises.