Percy PoV

"So you're the one I heard when we entered the labyrinth of Daedalus." I say.

"Yes, I almost fell down and as I was catching up I stepped on a branch. At the same time, me and discretion make two... "Stanislas answers, scratching his head.

"And Nico? "

"Well actually I met him by chance in Mexico, where the labyrinth took me. I came back after you and you know the labyrinth, it's impossible to find your way around it without someone special - explains Stanislas, and he looks amused at Newt-, not without a compass."

"Haha very funny. Why don't you tell us why you infiltrated us?" Retort him.

"As you have understood, I am the son of Nyx, but unlike my brothers and sisters, I am a demigod. I never knew my father, but I know that he is mortal."

"And so? What does that make us enemies?" Ask Minho.

"Let me finish. All my life I've only known this place, and my mother developed a feeling of injustice that gradually took hold of me. After all, why did I have to live here? Why didn't anyone care about me? So many unanswered questions for years. Then my mother met Percy and Annabeth. And everything changed. There were others. Others like me. I, who was a recluse, knew nothing. So I began to question my brothers and sisters, my mother, and anyone else who might know something. And I learned. I learned about the camps, about the gods, I learned who I was. And most of all, I learned that I could take my life into my own hands.
So when the opportunity to get out came up, I went for it."

"But you didn't do your job." Thomas relaunches.

"No. It was a deal. If I helped my mother with this plan, I would be free to leave. Freedom in exchange for betraying you. But I've grown attached to you. I got to know you. And I took control of my life. And you helped me reason with my mother."

"You can believe me, he wanted your good at all costs. During our crossing of the labyrinth to find you, he took ill-considered dangers, and his only objective, this will that allowed him to hold on, was only to help you."Nico intervened.

I exchange a glance with the others and I know that we think the same thing.
"It's all in the past. What matters is the choices we make now."

"Thank you."

"Good. We need to find Annabeth. The sooner we find her, the sooner we get out of here."

You're not getting out of here that fast.

-Tartarus?

The voice laughs before it answers.
No, not Tartarus. He is busy enough preparing his assault on Olympus to take care of you.

"Destroy Olympus? But I thought his goal was only revenge for Percy and Annabeth !" Said Stanislas, astonished.
"And if you are not Tartarus, then who..."

I am sure that the son of Poseidon will make the introductions.

Suddenly, a feeling of déjà vu takes me. I try to move. I can't move. My movements are slow, too slow. But how? As if time was slowed down... impossible!

"Cronos !" I exclaim.

It is myself. Happy to see me again, Perseus Jackson?

"Not so much. I thought Luke killed you."

Him? No. Too weak. All he did was send me back to Tartarus. Without energy, but that turned out to be a good thing, didn't it? The Olympians all thought I was defeated for eternity. But time cannot be undone!

The ground starts to rumble.
A shadow rises from the ground.
The air is icy.
I couldn't believe it. Cronos was there. In front of me, alive and well.

"As you can see, I still haven't found my body. I am only a shadow. But I am powerful enough to destroy all of you as much as you are!"

-You've already been killed once. We can do it again.

Cronos waves his arms.
A scythe appears in his left hand while in his right hand.

"ANNABETH!"

He holds her in one hand, clutching her at the throat.

"Release her."

"As if I was going to release her. Every time you find yourself in a situation like this, you heroes, always ask for something you know won't happen."

"I knew you wouldn't let her go. But if I said that, it's because I trust in my friends."

"what...AAAAGH"

Nico, who had taken advantage of the discussion to slip behind Cronos, used his Stygian iron sword to cut off the arm holding Annabeth. An ordinary sword would have only passed through the shadows, but the sword of the son of Hades cut her.

Stanislas caught Annabeth unconscious and they returned to stand beside us.

"Well done. But that only delays your death."

"I am waiting for you." I answer.

And we start running towards each other.
Cronos made a great lateral movement of his scythe, which I easily dodge.

"Good, Percy. You've made progress since last time!"

I raise my head and the shadowy face of Cronos is replaced by Luc's head.

"That was a long time ago. Since then, I have fought many battles. Since then, I have fought against giants, titans, Tartarus and Gaia. So I would advise you not to underestimate me, or it could cost you dearly."

On these words, I place a boot of my sword, but it only passes through its shadowy body.

"You were saying?"

-PERCY!
I turn around and I see Nico throwing something at me. His sword.

I grab it in flight and put myself in position.
Two swords fighting was not my strong point, but with Turbulence I could parry his scythe, and with the stygian iron sword I could wound him.

"It won't change anything!"

Tartarus throws himself on me, and I parry his scythe with Turbulence. I try a blow with Nico's sword but time slows down and my movement was too slow.

"Don't forget my powers, young demigod. I can stop time at will! However I prefer to fight you in a duel to break you on your favorite field."

He snaps his fingers and my body starts moving at its normal speed.

"Still as humble as ever, eh?" I tell him.

That said, it suited me. If he used his powers, I would be in great difficulty.

I dash out and place a boot that he deflects without difficulty.

"Come on, Percy, show me your progress !"

He was having fun taking Luc's look and voice. Unforgivable. He had no right. Not after everything he put him through.

-THAT'S ENOUGH!
I dash out and put a blow to his legs, but I change at the last moment and hit him in the face.

Luc's face disappears to make way for the shade.
"Nice fake, Perseus. But it will take more than that to beat me."

He throws his scythe and I prepare to dodge it, but my body refuses to move.
It comes dangerously close to my face.
I have to move.
I have to move.

Percy, you can do it.
That voice... Luke?
I'm just a memory. I'm gonna evaporate in a few seconds. I'm gonna get you something.
Use it wisely, I won't be able to help you afterwards.

"AAARGH !"

Cronos drops his scythe and falls to his knees.
"Impossible, I stopped time. You couldn't move!"

"In principle this is true. But you made a mistake. You may not be dead, but neither was Luc totally dead and he used his last strength to give me something priceless. Time."

I walked up to him and raised the sword of Nico.
"Once again, your pride is gone. Die."
And I draw the sword.

Cronos disappears in a volute of smoke.

I turn to my friends.
"It is time to leave. We must warn Olympus of the danger."

Not so fast.

"What now!" Newt gets angry.

So you have defeated Chronos. Interesting. But even if he is lost, his power is infinite.

"Look up!" Says Thomas.

I raise my eyes.
Tartarus was there. He was floating a few meters above the ground.
And in his raised hand he held...

yes, you understood Perseus Jackson. His power is now mine!

And at that moment, Tartarus was surrounded by the smoke from the death of Chronos.

"From now on, I am impossible to stop. I am now Infinite."

All turn to me.
I look at them and I see that they are waiting for me to say something reassuring. But I don't have that.
"We're in trouble, guys. But we're not giving up."

I turn to Tartarus, who now holds the powers of Cronos.

"Bring it on. I'll have you down in no time."

🔱 🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱
Hi Demigod ! 😁
Well, the situation is not looking good.
But no worries!
Percy will bring him down in no time...
You got it?
Power over time...
Bring it down in no time....
Anyway!
See you in the next chapter!

Stay cool, demigod 🔱😁

Word count :
1505