Anyways enough about me enjoy the chapter
Chapter 36: Into the Abyss
The air grew heavier with each step Percy took, the oppressive heat and stench of Tartarus coiling around him like a serpent. The ground beneath his feet was jagged and uneven, and the darkness stretched endlessly in every direction, pierced only by faint, flickering lights that danced like distant stars. These were no friendly beacons; they were flames of torment, illuminating the cursed souls and horrors that inhabited this godforsaken place.
He gripped Riptide tightly in his hand, the familiar weight of the celestial bronze sword a small comfort amidst the chaos. Every instinct in his body screamed at him to turn back, to flee from the oppressive weight of Tartarus. But he couldn't.
Not when Olympus was at risk. Not when he'd made a promise to Artemis.
"Focus, Percy," he muttered to himself, his voice barely audible over the distant wails of suffering. "You've been through worse."
That was a lie, of course. Nothing had ever felt as crushing, as soul-draining, as being in Tartarus. Even the air seemed to sap his strength, making each breath a battle.
A shadow darted in the corner of his vision, and Percy spun around, Riptide glowing faintly in his hand. The shadows here were alive, writhing and shifting as though watching him, waiting for a moment of weakness. He tightened his grip on his sword and pressed forward, his heart pounding in his chest.
He tried not to think about the last time he'd been here. The memories of falling through the void with Annabeth at his side were etched into his mind like scars. This time, he was alone. No one to watch his back, no one to pull him up if he stumbled.
The thought of Annabeth brought a pang of guilt, but he pushed it aside. He couldn't let himself get distracted—not now. He had a mission, and he couldn't afford to fail.
"Okay, Tartarus," he said aloud, his voice steadier than he felt. "Let's see what you've got."
As if in response, the ground beneath him shifted, and a fissure opened up, spewing a thick, sulfurous smoke. Percy leapt back just in time, narrowly avoiding the jagged edges of the chasm. From the depths of the fissure, a low, guttural growl echoed, followed by the sound of claws scraping against stone.
"Of course," Percy muttered, bracing himself.
A massive, hulking creature emerged from the chasm, its body a grotesque combination of shadow and flame. Its eyes burned like molten lava, and its maw was filled with jagged, blackened teeth. It let out a deafening roar, shaking the ground beneath Percy's feet.
"Yeah, you're definitely not getting invited to Camp Half-Blood," Percy quipped, raising Riptide.
The creature lunged at him, its claws slashing through the air. Percy rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding the attack, and slashed at its flank. Riptide's celestial bronze blade bit into the creature's flesh, and it howled in pain, the sound reverberating through the cavern.
"Not so tough now, huh?" Percy said, though his breaths were coming faster.
The creature whipped around, its fiery tail lashing out like a whip. Percy raised his sword just in time, deflecting the blow, but the force sent him stumbling backward. He gritted his teeth and pushed himself to his feet, determination burning in his chest.
This was what Tartarus wanted. It wanted him to falter, to give up. But Percy Jackson didn't give up.
With a roar of his own, he charged at the creature, his movements fluid and precise. He ducked under its claws, dodged its snapping jaws, and drove Riptide deep into its chest. The creature let out one final, ear-splitting shriek before collapsing into a pile of ash and shadow.
Percy stood over the remains, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. "One down," he muttered. "Who knows how many to go."
He wiped the sweat from his brow and looked around. The path ahead was still shrouded in darkness, and the air seemed to grow heavier with each passing moment. But he couldn't stop. Not yet.
As he moved forward, his mind drifted to Artemis. He thought about her strength, her unwavering resolve. She would've hated that he'd come here alone, but he knew it was the only way. If he didn't make it back, at least she'd be safe.
"Don't think like that," he told himself. "You're going to make it back. You have to."
The terrain grew steeper, the ground sloping downward into an even darker abyss. Percy could feel the oppressive presence of Tartarus growing stronger, the shadows pressing in around him like a living thing. But he didn't stop.
He couldn't.
Somewhere in the depths of this nightmare, the answers he sought waited. Answers that could save Olympus, that could protect the people he cared about.
And Percy Jackson wasn't about to let Tartarus win.
Thank you for reading as always please Review.
Until next time.