Sorry for the late chapter, but to make up for it, it's extra long!
CHAPTER TEN: THE BATTLE OF OTHRYS
Percy was many things.
Some might call him stupid. Maybe you'd call him cunning. Most would agree he was powerful. So yes, Percy was many things.
But 'successor' was not one of them, at least, not until now.
The figure that appeared before him was no nymph or monster but something infinitely more ancient and radiant. A blazing sun hovered behind the being, its light piercing through the shadows and warming the air. He was golden, in robes of sunlight, with an aura that shimmered like the horizon at dawn. This was not merely power, it was creation itself.
The figure's gaze landed on Percy, and he felt as if his very soul was laid bare. "You have walked long in the shadow of gods, Perseus," the being said, "but you are more than a demigod. You carry my flame."
Percy staggered back. "What do you mean? Who are you?"
"I am Ra," the figure declared, his eyes glowing like twin suns. "The eternal flame, the creator of life, and the destroyer of chaos. And you, my child, are my chosen successor."
"No," Percy said quickly. "You've got the wrong guy. I'm just a demigod. I can't-"
"Enough," Ra interrupted, the air crackling with heat. "The power within you has already begun to awaken. The trials you face, the enemies you conquer, these are not the makings of a mere demigod. The sun burns in your veins. You are destined to rise."
Zoë stepped forward, her face pale. "If you have a message, deliver it clearly. We have no time for riddles."
Ra turned his fiery gaze on her, and she flinched but did not back down. "The hunter speaks with courage, as is fitting. Very well, I shall be plain. The monster Artemis hunts is no creature of shadow but of light. It is him." He gestured at Percy, whose breath caught. "Or rather, what he will become."
Percy shook his head. "No. That's not- I'm not a monster!"
But even he didn't truly believe his words.
"Not yet," Ra said gravely. "But the power of the sun is not kind, Perseus. It does not yield. Without control, it consumes. Your journey is not merely to Othrys, but within yourself. Conquer the chaos, or it will conquer you."
Bianca's voice trembled as she whispered, "You're saying Percy is the... thing we're fighting?"
Drew frowned, her voice firmer. "No. He's saying Percy could be, if we don't help him."
"I don't need help!" Percy protested.
Ra inclined his head slightly. "The child of Sobek speaks wisely. Your path is not yet written, Perseus, but it is fraught with peril. Remember this: the sun rises only after the darkest night."
Slowly, Ra pressed a finger to Percy's forehead. Warmth flooded through him.
"Goodbye, successor. Use the power I have given you wisely."
With that, Ra began to fade, the brilliance of his light dimming until only Percy and his friends remained on the mountainside. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the faint whisper of the wind.
Of course, Percy thought bitterly. Give me power and don't tell me what it is. And be mysterious while you're at it. Great.
Zoë finally spoke. "You must tell us everything, Percy. No more secrets."
Percy met her gaze, his stomach twisting. The heat still pulsed under his skin. He exhaled shakily. "I don't have all the answers yet. But I'll tell you what I know."
As they began to walk, Percy's thoughts churned. He wasn't just fighting monsters anymore, he was fighting himself.
The mountain loomed above them, foreboding, as if the very earth was warning them away. The air felt heavier now, thick with expectation.
The warmth Ra had left in him hadn't faded. It burned quietly under his skin, a constant reminder of what had just happened. Of what he might become.
Zoë walked ahead, her posture stiff and deliberate. Drew and Bianca trailed behind, exchanging nervous glances but saying nothing. Percy was grateful for the silence. It gave him space to think, even if his thoughts were a tangled mess of questions.
"Chosen successor," Percy muttered under his breath. "What does that even mean?"
"What was that?" Bianca asked.
"Nothing," he lied. He knew they'd heard everything Ra said, but voicing it felt... too real. Too final.
They reached a narrow ridge, the path twisting upward like the spine of some ancient beast. Zoë stopped and turned, fixing Percy with a look that could cut through steel.
"You will explain," she said. "If you are what we're fighting, if you are what Artemis hunts, we deserve to know."
Percy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not... Look, I'm not the monster. Not yet, at least. Ra said it's about control. If I can keep this power in check, nothing happens."
"And if you can't?" Zoë pressed.
He hesitated. "Then I guess I'm the problem."
Drew's brow furrowed. "That's not fair. We're in this together. If you start to lose control, we'll figure it out."
Zoë's lips thinned. "This is not a matter of fairness. If he is a threat, we must be prepared to act."
Drew crossed her arms, glaring at Zoë. "Prepared to do what? Take him out? That's not happening."
"It may be necessary," Zoë countered. "If Artemis herself is hunting him, then-"
"Stop," Percy snapped, his voice sharp enough to make them all flinch. Flames licked at his fingers. Focusing, he quashed the flames. "I get it. I do. But I'm not planning on turning into some monster, okay? So let's focus on Othrys and whatever's waiting for us there."
For a moment, no one spoke. Then Zoë nodded curtly. "Very well. But know this, Perseus: I will do what is necessary. For the quest. For Artemis."
Percy swallowed hard. "Noted."
They resumed their climb. Percy tried to push the doubt away, to focus on the task ahead, but Ra's warning lingered in his mind.
The sun rises only after the darkest night.
He didn't know what battles lay at the top of the mountain or within himself, but one thing was clear:
Percy was going to win.
THE SON OF SOBEK
After what felt like hours of climbing, the group arrived at a beautiful garden.
Percy had honestly expected a huge fortress, or arena, or something more imposing.
Zoë seemed to realise his doubts, because she said: "This is the Garden of the Hesperides. We must pass through here to face Atlas."
Before Percy could respond, a feminine voice rang out. "Hello, sister. Why have you come back, disgraced one?"
Zoë froze mid-step, her face hardening. "Sisters," she called. Percy noticed the way her hand drifted instinctively to her bow, her fingers twitching as if she was already anticipating a fight.
Out of the shadows of the trees emerged four figures, each more striking than the last.
The Hesperides moved with a grace that made Percy feel jealous, their golden dresses shimmering like sunlight through the leaves. But their expressions were anything but welcoming.
The one who had spoken stepped forward, her gaze fixed on Zoë like a hawk eying its prey. "You are not welcome here," she said coldly, her voice dripping with disdain. "The traitor returns to the garden she abandoned."
Percy stepped forward. "We're just passing through. No need to roll out the red carpet."
The Hesperides ignored him, their focus solely on Zoë. Another sister spoke, her voice softer but no less cutting. "Did you think the garden would forget, Zoë? Did you think we would forget?"
"I did not come to speak with you," Zoë said sharply. "We are here for one purpose, to confront Atlas and stop his schemes."
The first Hesperide laughed, the sound as sharp as broken glass. "Oh, little sister, you think you can march into the domain of the Titan General and survive? How bold. How foolish."
Drew stepped up beside Percy, her usual snark tempered by unease. "Yeah, well, if we're gonna die anyway, just let us through."
Percy voiced his agreement.
The third Hesperide finally spoke. "You dare mock what you do not understand, Conquerer. This is no place for your insolence."
At that, Percy tensed. "Why does everyone keep calling me that?" he muttered.
The first Hesperide turned her gaze to him, her eyes glinting with interest. "Because it is your truth, Perseus. You carry the power of the Nile in your blood, the fury of the sun in your heart. A storm is brewing within you, one that will either save this world, or destroy it."
Zoë stepped between them, her posture rigid. "Enough riddles. Will you let us pass, or will you waste our time with empty threats?"
The Hesperides exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. Finally, the first sister sighed. "I am sorry it came to this, sister."
The hunter's expression grew fearful. "Sister, don't-"
"Come forth!" A Hesperide shouted.
The ground trembled, and from the shadows emerged a massive figure, golden scales glinting in the dappled sunlight. Percy's breath caught as the creature slithered into view, a serpentine behemoth with a head the size of a car.
"Ladon," Zoë breathed, her voice tight with dread.
The dragon coiled itself around a towering apple tree in the center of the garden, its forked tongue flicking out as it hissed.
"Wait," Percy said, pointing at the apples. "Is that the tree of immortality?"
"Yes," Zoë said, her eyes locked on the dragon. "And that is Ladon, its guardian."
Drew took a step back, her face pale. "So, uh, what's the plan? Please tell me there's a plan."
Bianca drew her bow, her hands trembling. "We fight, right? We don't have a choice."
Zoë shook her head. "No. Fighting Ladon is folly. Even Artemis herself would hesitate to face him directly."
The Hesperides laughed. "You will not escape this garden alive, sister," one of them taunted. "Ladon will see to that."
Percy stepped forward. The warmth Ra had left in him surged under his skin, and he focused on the dragon. "Then we don't fight him. We distract him."
"Distract him? You think you can distract Ladon?"
"Got a better idea?" Percy countered, a grin tugging at his lips despite it all. "Because I've got one shot at this."
Zoë hesitated, her brow furrowing. Then she nodded reluctantly. "Do what you must. We will cover you."
The dragon's head turned sharply toward them, its fangs bared. The ground beneath Percy seemed to tremble as he stepped forward, the heat in his veins blazing now.
Percy was going to fight a huge hundred-headed dragon with nothing but his fists.
He was like a less sexist, more reckless, Egyptian version of Heracles, he mused.
Percy clenched his fists, the fire in his veins surging to the surface. No sword, no weapons, just raw power and perhaps a suicidal amount of determination. He planted his feet firmly on the ground, staring up at the monstrous dragon towering over him.
"Alright, noodle-neck!" Percy shouted, clenching his fists as flames licked at his hands. "Let's see if you can keep up!"
Ladon hissed, its hundred heads swaying in unison. One head darted toward him, faster than a whip. Percy dodged, rolling to the side just as its jaws snapped shut with a deafening crack, shattering the earth where he'd been standing.
"Ha-di!" Percy shouted, watching the Egyptian magic literally explode one of Ladon's heads.
Zoë and the others scattered as they took cover. "Perseus, be careful!" Zoë warned.
He didn't respond, spinning around to face another snapping head. He raised his hands instinctively, and the fire within him erupted outward. A plume of flame shot from his palms, striking the dragon's snout. Ladon roared, dozens of heads flinching back in surprise.
"Whoa," Percy muttered, staring at his hands. "That actually worked."
"Do not grow overconfident, boy!" Zoë called out, nocking an arrow to her bow. She loosed a shot that struck one of Ladon's many heads, briefly drawing its attention away.
Percy seized the opening, sprinting to the side and weaving between the dragon's snapping heads. He had no intention of taking it down, he just needed to keep it distracted long enough for the others to figure out their next move.
"Glacius!" He all but roared, watching in satisfaction as one of Ladon's heads froze.
"Hey, Drew! Bianca!" Percy shouted over his shoulder. "How about some help?"
Drew dodged a head. "What am I supposed to do? Yell at it?"
"Whatever works!" Percy yelled, ducking another lunge.
The daughter of Aphrodite looked the dragon in the eyes, and shouted: "Stop!"
Instantly, Ladon's eyes grew heavy.
Bianca hesitated, then picked up a jagged rock from the ground. "Aim for the eyes?" she asked Zoë, who gave a terse nod.
Bianca took a deep breath and steadied her hands as she took aim. "Here goes nothing," she muttered. She threw the rock, the rock striking true as it pierced one of Ladon's eyes. The dragon roared in fury, several heads thrashing wildly while others snapped at the air in confusion.
Drew's voice rang out again. "Sleep!" she shouted, pouring every ounce of her will into the command. Ladon's movements slowed, its heads swaying like cobras under a snake charmer's spell. For a moment, it looked like Drew's words might actually work.
"Keep it up!" Percy yelled, diving between two of the dragon's heads as they snapped at him. He raised his hands again, summoning the fiery power coursing through him. He shouted, sending a wave of fire cascading across Ladon's golden scales. The flames didn't seem to harm the beast much, but they did push it back, buying the group precious seconds.
Zoë was already moving, her arrows finding their marks with precision. "Do not relent!" she barked. "Bianca, aim for the joints! Drew, maintain your hold!"
Bianca shifted her aim, targeting the softer scales at the base of one of Ladon's necks. Her arrows struck true, and the dragon hissed in pain, recoiling slightly.
Drew, her face pale and strained, kept her focus on the dragon's countless eyes. "Stop... moving!" she snapped, her voice trembling. To everyone's amazement, several of Ladon's heads actually froze in place, their golden eyes drooping as if caught in a stupor.
They didn't waste their golden opportunity, bolting out the garden.
The group sprinted through the lush garden, weaving between trees and rocks. Percy could hear Ladon's enraged roars echoing behind them, each sound a reminder of how close they were to disaster. The dragon's thrashing shook the ground, but Drew's influence still held. Many of its heads remained sluggish, its movements uncoordinated.
"Keep moving!" Zoë urged, glancing over her shoulder. Her expression was tight with urgency. "Do not stop for anything!"
Bianca stumbled, nearly dropping her bow, but Percy grabbed her arm and steadied her. "You're doing great, just keep running," he said, his tone surprisingly calm for someone who had just gone toe-to-toe with a hundred-headed dragon.
Drew was panting, her face pale as she pushed herself to keep up. "Please tell me that thing can't follow us out of the garden," she said, casting a nervous glance behind her.
"Ladon rarely leaves his post," Zoë replied. "But if sufficiently provoked, he might make an exception."
"Comforting," Drew muttered, but she didn't slow down.
As they neared the edge of the garden, the scenery began to change. The vibrant greens and golds of the Hesperides' domain gave way to rocky terrain and jagged cliffs. Ahead, a narrow path wound upward, disappearing into the mist-shrouded mountains.
"That's the way to the Titan's stronghold," Zoë said, pointing toward the path. "We must climb swiftly. Ladon's reach does not extend beyond the garden, but Atlas's forces may already know we are coming."
Percy glanced back one last time, his chest still heaving from the exertion. The golden-scaled dragon was coiled around the apple tree once more, its heads snapping at the air in frustration. It let out a final deafening roar, but it made no move to pursue them.
"Looks like noodle-neck is staying put," Percy said, letting out a breath of relief.
Zoë apparently didn't share his relief. "That was reckless, Perseus. Facing Ladon with no plan and no weapons?"
Percy shrugged, though his legs felt like jelly. "Hey, it worked, didn't it?"
"Barely," Zoë snapped, though there was a hint of grudging respect in her tone. She turned to Bianca and Drew. "Are you both unhurt?"
"I'm fine," Bianca said, though she looked pale. "That was... something."
"I'm not used to being a dragon whisperer, if that's what you're asking," Drew said, brushing stray leaves from her golden hair. "But yeah, I'm alive. Thanks for asking."
Zoë didn't dignify Drew's sarcasm with a response. Instead, she turned to Percy. "The power you wield... it is growing, but it is unstable. You must learn to control it before it consumes you."
Percy sighed, leaning against a tree to catch his breath. "One crisis at a time, Zoë. First, how are we taking down Atlas? Then we can worry about me."
Zoë's jaw tightened. "There is no 'taking down' Atlas. Our goal is to free Artemis and incapacitate him. If we linger, we will all die."
"Cool, cool," Percy said, rubbing the back of his neck. "No pressure, then."
Drew shot him a glare. "You seriously need to work on your idea of motivational speeches."
"Hey, Dove, we're not dead yet," Percy said with a shrug. "That's gotta count for something."
Drew groaned. "I thought you forgot about that nickname."
Zoë ignored their banter and started up the path, her eyes scanning the terrain for any signs of danger. "Stay close and stay quiet," she instructed. "The hardest part is yet to come."
Percy followed, his fists still tingling from the power he'd unleashed in the garden. As daunting as their next challenge was, he couldn't shake the feeling that something inside him had shifted. Something dangerous, something powerful. He only hoped it would be enough.
As the group began to move again, Bianca whispered, "What were the Hesperides' talking about?"
Zoë's voice was tight. "A long story. One I will tell... another time."
Percy glanced at her, catching the flicker of pain in her eyes. He knew better than to press. Instead, he focused on the path ahead, his fists clenched.
They were one step closer to Atlas, but also one step closer to the truth.
The air grew colder as the group ascended the narrow path. The distant roars of Ladon were replaced by an unsettling silence, broken only by the crunch of gravel beneath their boots.
Percy glanced at the others. Zoë led the way, her bow at the ready. Behind her, Bianca followed, her face set in grim determination despite the tremble in her hands. Drew brought up the rear, her usual sharpness muted as she focused on keeping up.
The climb was grueling, the path winding higher and higher until it felt like they were walking into the clouds. Percy's legs burned, but he kept pace, his mind racing with questions he couldn't quite voice.
Finally, Drew broke the silence. "So, what's the deal with the big guy? Atlas, I mean. Why is everyone acting like we're marching straight into a death sentence?"
Zoë didn't turn around as she answered, her voice calm but laced with tension. "Atlas is no ordinary Titan. He is the General of Kronos's forces, a warrior unmatched in strength and cruelty. His burden, holding up the sky, does not weaken him. If anything, it fuels him."
Drew frowned. "Great. So we're facing a Titan weightlifter with anger issues. Fantastic."
Bianca looked at Zoë, her brow furrowed. "But there's a plan, right? We're not just walking in there blind?"
Zoë hesitated, and Percy caught the doubt in her eyes. "The plan is simple: free Lady Artemis and escape. Anything beyond that is... uncertain."
"Uncertain?" Drew repeated, her voice rising. "You mean suicidal."
"Would you prefer I lied to you?" Zoë snapped, her tone icy. "The odds are against us. They always have been."
Drew opened her mouth to retort, but Percy cut her off. "Alright, enough. We've made it this far, haven't we? Let's work together."
Zoë glanced at him, her expression unreadable. "For once, I agree with Perseus. Save your strength for the battle to come."
They continued in tense silence. Percy's thoughts drifted back to the Hesperides' words - their weird warning about his power and the storm within him. He clenched his fists, trying to shake the unease. Whatever was happening to him, it wasn't something he could deal with now.
As they rounded a bend, the mist began to clear, revealing a towering structure carved into the mountainside. A half-built fortess was built on the top of the mountain.
Zoë stopped, her posture tense. "We are here," she said, her voice low. "Do not die."
"Great pep talk," Percy muttered, earning a sharp look from her.
Drew sighed, adjusting her grip on her dagger. "Well, if we die, at least we'll look good doing it."
"Of course that's what you're focused on," muttered Percy.
Drew flicked her hair. "I take that back. Only I'll get to look good."
Bianca shot her a nervous smile. "Let's try not to die, okay?"
Zoë nodded, her gaze fixed on the fortress. "Stay close. Follow my lead. And no matter what happens, do not let yourselves be captured."
Bianca looked around cautiously as they picked our way through the rubble, past blocks of marble and broken archways.
"Othrys moves in the same way that Olympus moves. It always exists on the edges of civilization." Zoë said. "But the fact that it is here, on this mountain, is not good."
"Why?"
"This is Atlas's mountain," Zoë said. "Where he holds-" she froze. Her voice was ragged with despair. "Where he used to hold up the sky."
The group had reached the summit. A few metres ahead of them, grey clouds swirled in a heavy vortex, making a funnel cloud that almost touched the mountaintop, but instead rested on the shoulders of a twelve-year-old girl with auburn hair and a tattered silvery clothes: Artemis, her legs bound to the rock with celestial bronze chains.
"My lady!" Zoë rushed forward.
Artemis, through a strained voice, said, "Stop! It is a trap. You must leave now." She was drenched in sweat. Percy had never seen a goddess in pain before, but the weight of the sky was too much for Artemis. Zoë was crying.
She ran forward despite Artemis's protests, and tugged at the chains. A booming voice spoke behind Percy: "Ah, how touching."
A Titan was standing there in a black silk suit. At his side was a blonde boy with a scar on his face and half a dozen snake-ladies bearing a golden sarcophagus. A blonde girl with grey stood at scarface's side. She had her hands cuffed behind her back, a gag in her mouth and a point of a sword to her throat.
"The sky," the figure said casually. "This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a certain radius. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape, unless someone takes it from you."
Percy's heart clenched as his eyes flicked from Artemis's trembling form to the towering figure of the Titan. The man standing before them radiated power. His eyes gleamed as he took in the scene, a slow smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
"Well, well," Atlas's voice rumbled, deep and mocking. "The little heroes come to save the day. How quaint."
Zoë stopped in her tracks, her entire body trembling. Her eyes locked onto Artemis, but her hand tightened around the hilt of her knife as she faced the Titan. "Let her go, Atlas," Zoë spat, her voice filled with defiance, even as she seemed to shrink under the weight of the Titan's presence.
Atlas raised an eyebrow, his amusement evident. "Let her go? Why, when she makes such an exquisite prize?" His gaze shifted to the celestial bronze chains that bound Artemis. "Such a perfect way to hold up the sky, wouldn't you agree, little hunter?"
Zoë's expression faltered, and for a moment, his words seemed to crush her. But it was quickly replaced by a hard edge of determination. "We won't let you keep her."
"Brave words," Atlas mocked, his voice a venomous hiss. "But ultimately, futile. I am not some beast you can defeat with your petty weapons." He stepped aside, revealing the blonde boy at his side, his scarred face twisted in a smug sneer. The boy gave a brief nod, and the snake-ladies advanced, their golden sarcophagus held high. "Luke, prepare the sacrifice."
Percy froze, a spell dying on his lips. "What are you doing?" he demanded.
Atlas's gaze flicked to him, and for a brief moment, the Titan's amusement turned to something colder. "Ah, the son of Sobek. I've heard stories of your little 'power.' But I do wonder, how far can you push that before it consumes you entirely?"
The mention of his powers sent a jolt through Percy, his thoughts flashing back to the unsettling feeling that had followed him since the garden. But there was no time to dwell on it. He squared his shoulders, trying to ignore the rising inside him. "We're going to stop you."
Atlas chuckled, the sound like thunder in the distance. "How brave, little hero. But you are mistaken if you think you can stop me."
The scarred boy - Luke - stepped forward then, his eyes narrowing at Percy. "Do you think you're here to save the world?" he sneered. "The gods are weak. Olympus is crumbling, and you're too late to stop it."
"That's where thou art wrong," Zoë growled, her voice steady now, though her eyes still shone with the pain of seeing her goddess chained before her. "We shall prevail."
Atlas's smile grew wider, an edge of cruelty twisting his features. "Then, you are more foolish than I thought. Artemis cannot be freed. Not unless you can stand against me."
Percy's hands shook as he prepared to make his move. "I'll die before I let you win, Atlas."
"Then die," Atlas said with a flick of his hand. His suit melted into armour, and he had a spear in his right hand. "Just as soon as I deal with this wretched girl."
"You're not going to harm Zoë," Percy said. "I won't let you."
The General of the Titans sneered. "You have no right to interfere, little hero. This is a family matter."
He frowned. "A family matter?"
"Yes," Zoë said bleakly. "Atlas is my father."
Before Percy could process that statement, the battle begun.
Bianca and Drew rushed Luke, leaving him barely enough time to get out his sword and engage them both.
Zoë shot arrows at Atlas from afar, dodging and weaving.
Percy looked between Artemis and Atlas. He made a decision.
He ran to the goddess in chains.
"Hold on, Artemis!" Percy shouted as he neared her.
The goddess's eyes flickered toward him, a brief moment of desperation in her gaze. "It's too dangerous," she rasped, her voice weak. "You can't-"
But Percy wasn't listening. His mind was locked on one thing: freeing Artemis, no matter the cost. The chains were made of celestial bronze, a material that even the gods couldn't break easily. But he wasn't just any demigod, and he wasn't about to let that stop him.
He reached out, his fingers brushing against the cold metal of the chains. Instantly, a surge of power rushed through him, a heat, a flame. He could feel the energy deep inside him, the storm that had been building since the garden, threatening to break free.
The power surged again, and Percy grit his teeth, focusing on the chains. He could feel the celestial bronze resisting him, pushing back like a tide, but he refused to relent. His hand clenched around the chain, and with a force born of desperation, he twisted and yanked.
The chain groaned, and for a moment, nothing happened. Then, with a deafening crack, the link snapped.
Artemis's eyes widened in shock, and for a split second, the sky seemed to shift, as if holding its breath.
Percy didn't hesitate. He pulled the rest of the chains apart, tearing them free from the rocks, and the moment they were gone, Artemis collapsed, her body shaking from the strain.
But there was no time to celebrate. Percy got down on his knees, shuffled forward, and took the sky from Artemis.
The pain was unimaginable. Scales shot up his arms, green hardening along his limbs, and the weight of the sky crashed down on him, suffocating him.
Percy gasped for air, his body convulsing under the pressure. His fingers dug into the rocky ground, struggling to keep from collapsing under the unbearable burden. The sky above him felt infinite, each star, each cloud, each piece of the sky pressing down, threatening to crush him.
"Percy!" Zoë shouted, her voice filled with horror as she saw him struggle beneath the weight of the sky. She rushed forward, arrows still in hand, ready to fight Atlas, but she could see the pain coming from Percy's form. "You have to let go!"
"I can't," Percy grunted, his voice strained and raw. "Artemis... too weak…"
His mind raced, images of Artemis's fragile form in his mind's eye. The thought of her suffering, of Zoë's determination, of his own power rising, was enough to fuel him. He could feel the something within him growing, pushing against the chains that held him, forcing him to tap deeper into the power that had been building inside of him.
Atlas laughed, his voice booming like thunder. "You truly are a fool, son of Sobek. Do you think you can bear the sky? It is beyond you."
Percy's vision blurred, and his body trembled, but his resolve hardened. He couldn't let Atlas win. Not now. Not ever.
With a mighty shout, Percy pushed back against the weight, forcing the sky to shift in his grip. The storm inside him howled, swirling like an inferno. The power he had been trying to control exploded outward.
Percy stood.
Perseus-Ra, son of Sobek, grandson of Poseidon, chosen of Ra, stood under the weight of the sky.
For a second, the fighting seemed to stop.
Then Artemis sprang into action.
For someone who had just been completely exhausted under the sky, she was fast.
Atlas advanced, pressing Artemis. She was fast, but his strength was unstoppable. His javelin slammed into the earth where she had been a split second before, and a fissure opened in the rocks. He leaped over it and kept pursuing her.
Percy pushed harder. He could feel the energy building, the storm inside him growing stronger, darker. His fingers twitched.
Atlas roared in fury, his eyes now filled with rage. He raised his javelin, preparing to strike down Artemis. But before he could move, Zoë took a shot.
The arrow flew true, its celestial bronze tip aimed at Atlas's chest. But before it could strike, the Titan raised his arm, deflecting the arrow with a swipe of his hand. Zoë cursed under her breath, her next shot already drawn.
Percy's heart skipped. He thought of Ra's words: The sun rises only after the darkest night.
He closed his eyes, focusing - well, as much as he could holding the literal sky - and reached into the depths of his mind.
Magic. That's what he needed.
But what spell would save him?
The Ribbons of Hathor, he thought wildly.
Percy could bind Atlas, and then-
One step at a time, he reasoned. No use getting ahead of himself.
The Ribbons of Hathor, he thought again, his mind grasping at the concept. The binding magic was ancient, meant to restrict and contain, to weave the strength of the gods into unbreakable threads.
His scaly hands trembled, but Percy didn't falter. He reached into the core of his power. He could feel the storm pressing against him, a storm of both literal and metaphorical proportions, but the magic... the magic was there.
Percy's fingers twitched again, this time intentionally. The air around him seemed to crackle with energy as he focused. Concentrate, he told himself. One step at a time.
Zoë's voice reached his ears, sharp and demanding. "Percy! Move!"
But Percy couldn't move, he physically couldn't. He was still holding the sky. He couldn't take his focus off it. But he could do this. He would do this.
He closed his eyes again, narrowing his thoughts into one singular point. The magic of the Ribbons of Hathor wasn't something he could conjure by sheer will alone. He needed power.
Luckily, Percy had more than enough of that.
The air thickened around him, the sky rumbling as his connection to Ra deepened. In that moment, Percy felt the power of ancient magic, the sun's scorching heat, the pull of the Nile, the binding of the ribbons - combine into one unstoppable force. His fingers twitched again, and threads of glowing golden energy began to form around his hands.
The Ribbons of Hathor. He felt them manifest, stretching like vines, glowing in the darkened sky.
He opened his eyes, and for a moment, everything slowed down. He could see the Ribbons now, faint but real, hovering just above his outstretched hand, weaving and twisting in the air.
Atlas was still fighting Artemis, following her.
Artemis was leading Atlas to Percy, he realised with a jolt.
With a commanding motion, Percy stretched his arm out toward Atlas.
"Stay bound," Percy whispered, the words barely audible. "Tas!"
The ribbons shot forward, wrapping around the Titan's body with astonishing speed, the glow of the magic brightening as they tightened like coils around his limbs. Atlas shouted, a sound of fury and confusion as the glowing threads constricted around his arms, his legs, his chest, pulling him to the ground.
But it wasn't enough. Atlas wasn't just a Titan, he was the embodiment of strength itself. Even as the Ribbons of Hathor held him in place, he struggled, his muscles bulging with unnatural force. The power of the sun raged within Percy's veins, but it wasn't enough to fully constrain the Titan.
Zoë wasted no time. She fired, her arrow streaking through the air.
Atlas, distracted by the Ribbons binding him, had no chance to deflect it this time. The arrow found its mark, piercing his shoulder with a sickening crack. The Titan howled, staggering back. But the magic of the Ribbons was holding, just long enough for Zoë's second shot to land, this time in his side.
Percy gritted his teeth, his body on the verge of giving in. His connection to the Ribbons was beginning to weaken under the strain of holding the sky, but the magic held true, the bonds growing tighter, more intricate, despite Atlas's attempts to break free. The Ribbons pulsed with light, straining against the Titan's raw strength.
Percy's vision swam, the edges darkening as the weight of the sky threatened to crush him. But he couldn't stop. Not now. Not with Artemis's safety at risk, not with Zoë fighting to keep hope alive. He couldn't let go.
With a final kick, Artemis sent Atlas sprawling towards him. Percy let his arms relax as the Titan crashed into him, being forced to take the sky.
"NO!" Atlas roared. "NOT AGAIN!"
Meanwhile, Drew and Bianca were fighting against Luke. Despite it being two on one, Luke was the far superior swordsman.
Bianca stabbed at Luke with her hunting knife, but he just sidestepped. The sarcophagus behind her gleamed in the dim light, a symbol of death, but there was nothing sacred about this moment.
Luke looked pale. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his gaze flicking between the two girls. "You really think you can stop me?" he sneered.
Bianca's fingers tightened around her bow, her quiver full of arrows slung over her shoulder.
Drew could feel the rage bubbling within her, the anger at Luke's betrayal, at everything he had done. He had once been a hero, once. But now he was a traitor, consumed by a need for revenge, and there was no turning back.
"You won't get away with this," Bianca said. "Give up."
Drew wasn't a fighter by nature, but the sheer thought of Luke's twisted ambition and Annabeth's peril lit a fire in her chest. She couldn't stand by and do nothing.
"I don't know what you think you're doing, Luke," Drew spat, "but you're not going to win."
Luke's smirk never wavered as he raised his sword, the bronze-steel alloy gleaming in the low light. "You really think you can defeat me? After everything I've done, after everything I've built?"
With a sudden flick of his wrist, he lunged forward, aiming to strike at Bianca. She was ready, though, and she moved swiftly, dodging to the side just in time, her bow already pulled taut. With a snap of her wrist, an arrow flew from her quiver, aiming for Luke's heart.
But he was faster, his sword slicing through the air to deflect the arrow with ease. The arrow clattered to the ground, useless.
Drew's eyes narrowed, and she summoned a wave of charm-speak, hoping to weaken Luke's resolve. "You can't win," she called, her voice smooth and persuasive. "You never could. You were always just the pawn. We're the ones who are going to win, Luke. You can't fight us."
Luke's expression darkened, his grip on his sword tightening. "You think I care?" he growled, his voice low and threatening. The charmspeak was working, making him angry, sloppy. "I'm not bound by your petty ideals anymore."
Bianca wasn't about to let him get away with this. She nocked another arrow and fired before Luke could even react. But Luke was ready. He twirled his sword, deflecting the arrow with a sharp clang.
Drew stepped forward, trying to distract Luke, weaving a web of charm-speak that was more forceful now, her eyes glowing with a subtle, dangerous power. "You don't have to do this. Let Annabeth go. Stop this madness."
But Luke's eyes flickered with a moment of something darker, something almost lost in the madness. His sword glinted again, and without warning, he swiped at Drew, his blade catching the edge of her shirt as she dodged back. It was a warning shot. "You can try to reason with me, Drew," Luke said, his voice colder than before, "but I've already made my decision."
Bianca's knife struck again, and this time, it found its mark, forcing Luke to stumble back. For a moment, he was off balance. Bianca saw her opening, and without hesitation, she lunged forward, her blade aimed straight for his side.
But Luke, never one to be outdone, parried her blow with a grunt, his sword scraping against hers with a screech of metal.
"Pathetic," he sneered, and with a single swipe, he knocked both their blades away, sending them clattering to the ground.
Bianca and Drew stood their ground, but they were losing.
"Annabeth," Bianca muttered, her gaze flicking toward the captive girl. "We'll get you out of here. Just hang on."
Annabeth lay there, just as pale as Luke. She didn't respond.
"You think you can beat me?" Luke said. "We shall change the earth, daughter of Hades!"
"Hades?" Bianca said. Memories flashed through her. A woman's smile, a god's scythe, skulls and rivers and-
"I am the daughter of Hades," she all but growled. "The earth is mine by RIGHT!"
The black rock of Othrys shifted.
The ground trembled, and the air grew thick with a sudden, chilling pressure. Bianca's declaration hung in the air, a warning to Luke, and a promise to herself. She could feel it, the dark power that flowed through her veins. She was a daughter of Hades, and the earth was hers to command.
Luke faltered, just for a moment, but it was enough to make Bianca press forward. The black rock of Othrys groaned, as if it understood her words. The earth itself seemed to listen, shifting underfoot.
"You've already lost, Luke," Bianca spat, stepping closer to the prone Annabeth. "Your empire, your thirst for power, it's all going to crumble."
Luke's face twisted in anger. "I don't need your ideals, Bianca. I've moved beyond your father's petty underworld. I've embraced something greater."
He raised his sword again, his eyes flashing with wild fury. Without warning, he lunged at Bianca, aiming for her throat, but Bianca was faster. She didn't need a sword. The earth answered her call, jagged black rock cutting into the son of Hermes.
Drew's voice rang out, sharp and full of venom. "You think we're afraid of you, Luke?" She stepped forward, her charm-speak more forceful now. "You're nothing but a traitor. You'll fall."
Luke staggered for a split second, his hand twitching as he fought against the influence. But he wasn't the same Luke from the past. This new version of him was far too entrenched in his rage to be easily swayed.
He glared at Drew, his eyes dark with hatred. "I don't need your tricks anymore, Drew. I've made my choice. This world will be mine, and there's nothing you can do to stop me."
Bianca's heart pounded in her chest, but she didn't back down. She could feel the pull of the earth beneath her feet, the dark power of her father thrumming through her limbs. The black rock of Othrys was hers to command.
Luke lunged at Drew, aiming to silence her once and for all. His blade caught the edge of her shoulder, the sharp tip of the sword scraping against her skin, but Drew twisted out of the way, only to be knocked back by the sheer force of his attack.
The earth shot up, catching Luke and letting Drew recover.
"Stop!" Drew shouted. "You don't have to do this. It's over."
"I don't need to hear your lies, Drew," Luke hissed. "You're as weak as the rest of them."
Suddenly, the black stone of Othrys began to tremble beneath their feet.
The ground cracked open beneath Luke's feet, black fissures spreading outward like veins. Shadows surged up from the cracks, and Luke's expression shifted from one of confidence to one of shock.
Bianca stepped forward again, her eyes dark with power. "You're not the only one with power, Luke. This earth belongs to me now."
Drew gave one last command. "Run."
Luke stumbled back, his eyes darting around as the black stone encroached on him.
Bianca slammed her hands onto the ground, and the earth obeyed. Black rock rose, pushing Luke off the mountain.
The two breathed heavily, but they had done it. They had won.
Percy approached them, being held up by Artemis and Zoë. The mountain was devastated, black rock forming jagged structures, flames as bright as the sun still burning, cracks and fissures everywhere.
They had won.
I'm actually really proud of this one. What do you all think?
Review responses:
merendinoemiliano: Lmao, thanks.
Robotdocter: Oh yeah, Zeus is definitely gonna be a bitch to Percy. To be fair, his daughter did die. Hey, hope the chapter lived up to your expectations!
Anaklusmos404: Thanks! Glad you liked my take on the convo with Ares and Aphrodite. Well, you did guess the Ra thing completely, so good eye! Percy's whole 'grandson of Poseidon' thingy will be revealed next chapter. Thanks again!
Umbra Lycan: Thank you so much! I intend to show more of Percy's extended family in the later chapters.
Guest: Appreciate it!
Mmmmmm: I posted, finally.
iron-slayer-dragon: Glad you liked it!
Grimmideals: Lmao, that's what I was going for. Thanks!
That's about all, so... yeah. PM any questions or suggestions you might have.
See you all soon!