Percy’s dreams were murky, filled with whispers and shadows that seemed to tug at him from all directions. Faces flashed in his mind, memories of battles, laughter, loss—everything swirling together in a chaotic storm of emotions he couldn’t escape. The weight of his power, the exhaustion, and the deep ache of his soul made it hard to wake up, even though he knew he needed to.

Outside his dream, voices filtered through the fog, though they were faint, distant echoes.

“Percy… please wake up…” That was Jason’s voice, strong but laced with fear.

“Just give him time.” That was Piper, her voice steady but tinged with worry. “He’s not going anywhere, okay?”

Percy’s body was heavy, but somewhere deep inside, he willed himself to move, to wake up. He couldn’t leave his friends. Not now.

Slowly, the darkness began to lift.

When Percy finally opened his eyes, it felt like surfacing from the deepest part of the ocean. His limbs were sluggish, and his head pounded, but the familiar faces of his friends crowded around him, and the sight filled him with relief.

“Percy!” Jason leaned over him, his face split into a wide grin of relief.

“About time,” Ace added with a smirk, though her eyes were filled with worry. “We thought you were gonna sleep forever.”

Percy blinked, trying to shake the grogginess from his mind. “What... what happened?”

“You went all supernova on us,” Will said, sitting nearby, his face pale with exhaustion. “Used way too much power and nearly burned yourself out.”

Piper stepped closer, her hand resting on Percy’s shoulder. “We thought we lost you for a while there. Will barely managed to keep you alive.”

Percy looked at Will, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thanks, man. I owe you.”

Will waved him off, though he looked drained. “Just... don’t do that again, okay?”

Percy slowly pushed himself up, his muscles aching. As he sat up, memories of his rampage flooded back. The surge of power, the uncontrolled force that had flowed through him—it was like nothing he’d ever felt before. It wasn’t just the power of the sea anymore. It was something darker, something deeper, and he wasn’t sure if he could control it.

“Where are we?” Percy asked, looking around. They were still in the abandoned warehouse, the walls cracked and damp from the water that had surged through during his outburst. Harley stood nearby, leaning against the wall with her bat slung over her shoulder, a smirk on her face as she watched him.

“Back at the scene of the crime, so to speak,” Harley said with a chuckle. “You gave everyone here quite a show, kiddo. Even the big, bad Justice League had no idea what to do with you.”

At the mention of the Justice League, Percy’s heart sank. “They’re still after us, aren’t they?”

“Not just them,” Jason said, his expression growing grim. “Something else is coming. We can all feel it. This world is different. Our powers are changing.”

Percy nodded. He could feel it too. Ever since they arrived in this world, his connection to the sea had deepened, but it wasn’t just that. There was something else stirring inside him, something that had been awakened after the war with Gaea, and now it was growing, threatening to consume him.

Piper sat down beside him, her face serious. “We need to be careful, Percy. Your powers... they’re not the same as they used to be. None of ours are.”

“Mine feel stronger,” Ace said, twirling her dagger, Kaptopris, between her fingers. “Like the gods gave us a little extra boost before we left. But it’s not just strength. It’s... unpredictable.”

Jason clenched his fist, his lightning sparking faintly at his fingertips. “We’ve been running for days, and every time we use our powers, they get more intense. I don’t know if it’s this world, or something else, but we can’t keep running like this.”

Percy looked at his friends, his heart heavy with the weight of their situation. They were all scared. And he was too.

“We need a plan,” Percy said, his voice steady despite the uncertainty gnawing at him. “Running won’t work forever. If the Justice League is still after us, we have to find a way to deal with them—and figure out what’s happening to us.”

Harley chuckled again, pushing off the wall and walking toward them. “Well, you’ve got me now, kiddos. Ain’t nobody gonna mess with you while I’m around. Not even those super types.” She tapped her bat against her shoulder, her eyes glinting with mischief. “Mama’s got this.”

Despite the situation, Percy smiled. Harley was unpredictable, but she was on their side. And right now, they needed all the help they could get.

“So what now?” Shadow asked from the corner, his voice quiet but steady. “Where do we go?”

“We can’t stay here much longer,” Will said, rubbing his temples. “If the Justice League found us once, they’ll find us again. And Percy can’t afford another fight like that.”

Percy nodded, wincing as he stood up fully. His body still ached, but he couldn’t let that stop him. “We’ll move soon. But first, we need to get some information. We need to figure out why our powers are changing, why the Justice League is so interested in us, and what’s really going on in this world.”

“And how exactly do we do that?” Ace asked, raising an eyebrow.

“We find someone who knows more than we do,” Percy replied. “Someone who knows the Justice League. Maybe even someone who’s not on their side.”

Harley grinned, her eyes twinkling. “Well now, I might know a few folks who could help with that.”

Percy glanced at her, a hint of amusement in his tired eyes. “You always know the right people, don’t you?”

Harley winked. “What can I say? Mama’s got connections.”