Percy's PoV

It doesn't look good.

I parry the assaults of Tartarus, but I can't fight back. Every time I try to strike a blow, time slows down.

"So, Percy Jackson. Weren't you supposed to bring me down in no time? Or maybe it's just talk!"

I don't retaliate, too focused on not dying under his assaults.

A shiver runs down my left arm.
Out of pure instinct, I throw myself to the side, and barely dodge the fist of Tartarus, which had risen at the speed of light.

A new shiver on my right side this time. Once again, my body reacts on its own, by pure instinct, and I avoid another blow.

"Congratulations. I didn't think you would dodge that shot."

Smoke suddenly surrounds Tartarus, then gathers in his hand, taking the shape of a sword, bright red, reminiscent of the color of blood.

Until now, Tartarus had fought with his bare hands. Moreover, he was gradually discovering his powers, and he seemed to become more and more comfortable in his body as the fight progressed.

Among other things, he was getting stronger, I was getting weaker.

Tartarus threw himself at me and attempted a lateral blow, which I parried not without difficulty, then I attempted a feint that should have hit him in the face.
Which should have.
Once again, my arm becomes as heavy as lead, and time seems to stop.

"One feels powerless, demigod?"

With these words, Tartarus kicks me.
I get up and attack.

I attempt a coup d'estoc and I realize that my sword... is not in my hand.

I raise my eyes and I see Turbulence in the hands of Tartarus.

"How did this happen"

"Poor wretch. All I have to do is stop time to do as I please. You are impotent."

Why did he make the fight last, if he could kill me without difficulty?

"I will answer your silent question. If I don't kill you, it's to break you. I want you to realize that there is nothing you can do to save your friends. That there is nothing you can do to stop me. That your courage cannot save you this time. You have no help. You are alone."

Tartarus throws me my sword, which I grasp in flight.
"So keep fighting. The more you fight, the greater your despair will be."

Suddenly the air becomes cold, and a new shiver runs through me. But this time I feel it in my whole body. Without knowing why, as my eyes see Tartarus in front of me, I turn and move my sword in the void...

...but the movement is stopped by an obstacle.

There is a disturbance at the place where my sword has stopped, and Tartarus appears, his sword raised, having served to stop my blow.

"How could you know I was there?"

I didn't know it myself. Tartarus was in front of me, and yet my body acted by pure instinct, not trusting the image my eyes reflected.

My thoughts were interrupted by the vision of a movement behind Tartarus.

"You should not underestimate us. I am not alone."

Tartarus, still astonished by my gesture, understood my words only too late.

With cries of rage, Nico, Thomas, Newt, and Minho threw themselves on Tartarus, sifting him with sword, spear, and knife.

Tartarus roared but before he could do anything, they pushed each other and Stanislaus appeared, a ball of dark energy forming in his hands. He threw it towards Tartarus, and Tartarus took it head on.

Stanislas turned towards me.
"Percy, quickly! It will only blind him for a few seconds!"

I firmly grasped Turbulence and threw myself towards Tartarus, very quickly joined by the others.
Tartarus falls to his knees, and as I was about to strike a sword at the level of his neck, he utters a loud cry, and we are thrown into the air to land about ten meters further.

Tartarus gets up.
"That's good. Very good. Show me what you are capable of!"

Thomas approaches me.
"Percy, how could you come out of your fight with him alive the first time?"

"The last time, he was discovering the sensation of being trapped in a body. He didn't have the powers of Cronus. And last time, I had the help of a giant and a titan. "

"Those two, don't tell me about them! They caused me a lot of problems, and finally they turned against me. They got the punishment they deserved. Now it's your turn!"

He walks towards Thomas and me, his footsteps digging craters in the ground.

I tremble with rage.
"You killed them. You killed Bob and Damasen."

"They got what they deserved."

Blinded by rage, I set out for Tartarus.
But as I come upon him with my sword in the air, I understand my mistake. I do exactly what he wants me to do. His sword appeared in his hand and I feel that thrill again.

I decide to let my body act by itself, without thinking. His sword passes close to my belly while I rotate to dodge it.

I make a feint with Turbulence but rather than dealing a blow, I throw my sword in the air, then drop to the ground, avoiding being sliced in half.

On the ground, I sweep him with my feet, making him fall, and without giving him time to understand what is happening to him, I get up sharply and give a big kick in his hand, making him drop his sword.

He gets up, disarmed but no less dangerous.

-Taking away my weapon will not be enough to defeat me.

I think back to Bob. Damasen.
He killed them. I can't let him kill those present today.

I take him by the arm and send him face down. From him, my arm rises up while my eyes are focused on Tartarus and grabs my sword that was falling down.
I grab my sword with both hands and try to pierce Tartarus, but he makes me fall back down.

On the ground, I strike my sword which cuts him, but his wound closes almost instantly.

Tartarus stands above me, a new sword appearing in his hands.

"It seems that your strength increases tenfold when your friends are in danger. But it won't be enough."

He lowers his sword.
But it is stopped by a...

Broomstick.
Not believing it, I look up and see him.
Bob.

"Don't touch Percy. Bob is going to make you pay for what you've done." he says to Tartarus.

And he throws Tartarus into the air with a great sweep of the broomstick.

"Bob, how... are you not dead?" I ask.

"Damasen saved Bob. I took refuge in his swamp, where not even Tartarus could find me."

"And Damasen?"

Bob doesn't answer, and a tear flows down his cheek.
"Take your friends and leave this place. I am holding Tartarus. It was good to see you again, Percy."

And he starts running towards Tartarus who was already getting up after his fall.

I turn to the others, who had all gathered around Annabeth who was getting up.

I join them running.
I crouch down beside Annabeth, when something jumps on me, making me lose my balance.

A cat.
Not just any cat. Ti-Bob.

The kitten is purring and the ground is shaking.
Then his fur glistens and he transforms himself for a second into a ghostly skeleton, before becoming an ordinary kitten again.

"What a... What is that thing?" Thomas asks.

"It's a friend. Just like the titan who's fighting Tartarus right now."

WOOF!

I turn around. Impossible.

Kitty O'Leary.
She had not been killed by the Arai.
She and Ti-Bob started playing together, and I understood that if she was still alive, it was because Bob had to heal her with his power.

Once again, Bob was saving my friends' lives.

I turn to Annabeth.
"How are you feeling?"

"I feel fine. I can fight."

She gets up and wields her dagger.
"We're not giving up on Bob. Not this time."

Without consulting each other, we're all heading out to the scene of the confrontation that Bob was going through.

We throw ourselves into the fray with war cries, and Annabeth and I stand on either side of Bob.

"We're not leaving you Bob this time." says Annabeth.

"You're going to come see the stars with us, I tell him."

Bob looks at us and another tear flows down his cheek.
"Thank you my friends. Let's fight in memory of Damasen !"

"FOR DAMASEN!"

Then we throw ourselves into the battle.

🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱🔱
Hello demigod!
I hope this chapter was to your liking!
We're nearing the end of the story,
the final battle begins!
Don't hesitate to give your opinion, vote and share!
Stay cool, demigod 🔱😁
Word count :
1474