Percy woke to the familiar sound of waves crashing against the shore. His body ached, but the soothing energy of the ocean helped dull the pain. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the bright light of the sun. His friends were gathered around him, their faces filled with concern.

"He's awake," Jason said, letting out a breath of relief.

"Thank the gods," Thalia muttered, leaning against a nearby rock. She still had her spear in hand, its tip glowing faintly with residual energy from their earlier fight. Her stormy eyes softened when she looked at Percy.

Piper knelt beside him, her brow furrowed. "Are you okay?"

Percy sat up slowly, feeling the familiar dizziness that came from pushing his powers too far. "I’ll be fine," he said, trying to sound more confident than he felt. "Just… tired."

Nico stood a few feet away, his arms crossed, his usual scowl plastered on his face. "You almost drowned the entire Justice League. Not bad."

Percy managed a weak smile. "I wasn’t trying to drown them."

Thalia snorted. "Could have fooled me."

They had escaped—barely. The Justice League hadn’t pursued them further, but Percy knew it wouldn’t last. They needed to keep moving, stay ahead of their pursuers. And soon, they’d have to figure out how to get to Atlantis.

"You guys okay?" Percy asked, looking at each of his friends in turn.

"Yeah," Jason replied. "Thanks to you."

"We’re fine," Piper added, though her eyes were still clouded with worry. "But what about you?"

"I just need to rest," Percy said, leaning back against the rock. He closed his eyes, feeling the pull of the ocean nearby. "Poseidon’s gift is helping, but I used too much power. I need time to recover."

Thalia looked at the horizon, her expression hardening. "We don’t have much time. The Justice League will regroup. We need to keep moving."

Nico nodded in agreement. "They’re not going to stop coming after us. Especially now that they know we’re dangerous."

Percy opened his eyes and met Nico’s gaze. "We’ll figure it out. But we can’t keep running forever."

Jason sighed, brushing his blond hair out of his face. "So, what's the plan? We can't stay out in the open like this."

"Atlantis," Percy said simply. "We need to get there before Triton does something we can’t fix. And we can’t afford to let the Justice League catch up to us."

Thalia frowned. "How are we supposed to even get to Atlantis? It’s not like we can just swim there. Even with Poseidon's blessing, it’s a long way."

Percy shrugged. "I’ll figure it out when we’re closer to the coast. But I’m pretty sure the ocean will guide me. That’s how it’s always been."

"Sounds risky," Nico said, his voice quiet but filled with doubt.

"It’s all we’ve got," Percy replied, his gaze steady. "We’re in a new world, and things are different here. But the ocean… it’s still my father’s domain. If anyone can help us, it’s him."

Piper stood up, stretching her arms. "Then we should get moving. We’re too exposed here."

Jason glanced at the sky, his eyes narrowing. "Agreed. The sooner we reach the ocean, the better."

Thalia twirled her spear, electricity sparking from the tip. "Lead the way, Seaweed Brain."

Percy smiled weakly. It was comforting to hear her call him that, even if it was with a touch of sarcasm. He pushed himself up, his legs shaky but holding.

As they prepared to move, Nico approached Percy, his dark eyes serious. "Are you sure you're ready for this? If you pass out again, I won't be able to drag you."

Percy gave him a tired smirk. "I’ll be fine. Besides, you’re stronger than you look."

Nico huffed but didn’t argue. Instead, he gave Percy a small nod before turning back to the group. Thalia and Jason were already scouting ahead, Piper close behind.

"Let’s go," Percy said, and they began their trek toward the coast, the call of the sea growing stronger with each step.