Estelle, sensing the tension, buried her face in Annabeth's side, her small body trembling. Annabeth felt a surge of protectiveness rise within her, a fierce determination to shield the little girl from whatever dangers awaited them.

"We have to warn them, Luke," Annabeth said, her voice steady despite the fear gnawing at her. "Kronos is planning something big. He wants more than just Estelle."

Luke's eyes glazed over, and he twitched his hand, gently.

Instinctively, Annabeth drew her celestial bronze dagger, its familiar weight offering a sliver of comfort in the face of overwhelming danger. "Luke," she pleaded, her voice tight, "don't let him control you. We need to get Estelle and this warning to Chiron. He's planning something bigger than you realize!"

Luke's expression remained unreadable, his eyes shifting between Annabeth's determined gaze and the approaching darkness where Kronos lurked. A flicker of doubt, a hint of his old self, seemed to flicker within him.

Suddenly, a loud scream erupted from the forest. It was Grover, his voice filled with fear and pain. He stumbled into the clearing, his satyr form battered and bruised.

"He... he found me," Grover gasped, pointing behind him. "He's coming."

Kronos, a monstrous silhouette against the dim forest light, emerged from the trees. His eyes burned with rage, fixated on Annabeth and Estelle.

"You dare defy me, child," he boomed, his voice echoing through the clearing. "You will pay for your insolence."

Annabeth, seeing no other choice, stood her ground, her dagger raised in a defensive stance. But she knew she couldn't hold him off for long. Her heart pounded in her chest, fear a cold weight in her stomach.

In that moment, Luke took a step forward, surprising everyone. He raised his hand, palm facing Kronos. "This ends now," he declared, his voice stronger than Annabeth had heard it in months.

Kronos scoffed. "You cannot defy me, Luke. You are mine."

"No more," Luke retorted, his voice resolute. "I choose to fight for what is right."

A surge of energy crackled around Luke as he focused his power. Annabeth watched in awe as a celestial bronze sword materialized in his hand, emitting a radiant light.

Kronos, caught off guard by this sudden defiance, roared in fury. But before he could react, Luke charged. He fought with a newfound ferocity, driven by remorse and a desire to atone for his past mistakes.

The battle that ensued was fierce and brutal. Luke, fueled by his newfound resolve, parried Kronos's attacks with surprising skill. Annabeth and Grover, emboldened by Luke's bravery, decided to join the fight.

Annabeth, utilizing her agility and strategic mind, danced around Kronos, landing swift strikes while Grover, drawing on his satyr strength, distracted the Titan with swift kicks and punches.

Estelle, nestled behind a fallen tree, watched the battle unfold with wide eyes, a mixture of fear and newfound hope flickering within her.

The fight raged on, the clearing echoing with the clash of metal and the roars of rage. It was a battle not just for their lives, but for the fate of the world.

Will Luke be able to hold off Kronos long enough for Annabeth and Grover to reach Camp Half-Blood and deliver their warning? Will Estelle, the key to Kronos's plans, escape his grasp?