Chapter 18

Pit to Tartarus, Unknown Depth

Percy's POV (3rd)

As Perseus fell down the pit, he wondered how long it would take to fall this time. He knew that Hesiod had once said it would take nine days to fall down, but he had proven that wrong before; now he wondered if Arachne had some magic on that pit because this was definitely feeling a lot longer than a few hours - well, it felt like a few hours back then at least.

Strangely enough, he wasn't scared or worried - for himself at least- in fact, he didn't feel anything except for a steely determination and a boiling anger. However, Percy was scared, he was scared for Zoë, for Thalia, for the hunt, and for whoever Ouranos could go after with him out of the way.

Percy vowed that no matter what it takes, no matter what he has to do, no matter who he has to run a blade through, he will get out of Tartarus - even if he has to climb his way out - he will come back. To him, it's just a matter of time until he reaches the surface once more, and in Tartarus, he will have all the time in the world.

—

Hunter's Camp, Upper Peninsula Michigan

Thalia's POV (3rd)

As the Earth had shaken down to its core, Thalia watched as her cousin killed the Titan of Destruction, Perses, and the sea of monsters run away in terror. She couldn't blame them for running, if she was in their position she would run too. As Thalia watched another lightning bolt fall from the heavens, she feared another monster army coming to replace the last; what came was something she didn't even think was possible.

Thalia had watched in shock as her cousin fell into a pit, leading to who knows where. As Thalia went to go help, Thalia found herself nearly passing out from a pain in her leg - 'damn cyclops'. She watched helplessly and in pain as the closest thing she has for a family fall to gods know where; the image of him being pushed by a seemingly invisible force repeating in her mind over and over again as darkness and pain overcame her.

—

Pit to Tartarus, Unknown Depth

Percy's POV (3rd)

As the small pit opened up to a wide cavern, so large Percy, even with his unnaturally strong eye sight couldn't see the end. As Percy scanned the landscape, he saw the familiar, terrifying blood red clouds, the endless black rock plains, completed with fiery chasms and jagged mountains. Percy scanned once more and could see a series of mountains that ran along farther than what Percy could see, at another end he could see what looked like trees - whether they were from Damasen's swamp or the Forest of Curses was yet to be determined.

As Percy looked below him, he saw a long black river: The River Styx. At the sight Percy grew even angrier, Ouranos didn't want to leave him a chance of living, he wanted his very soul to dissolve into nothingness. The water of the sacred river started churning, reacting to the Son of Poseidon's emotions, any monsters foolish enough to be anywhere near the bank of the river was soon killed; each dissolving in silent screams of unimaginable pain.

As Percy fell into the black water of the Styx, he envisioned a tether connecting to his heart, a place where nothing; not even blunt trauma would be able to kill him. After his first time dipping in the Styx, he realized that there was nothing stopping him from picking an internal point. As Percy hit the water, he felt as if every molecule of his very being was ripped apart slowly and painfully; putting him through indescribable pain.

As Percy was convulsing in pain, he realized the lack of people trying to pull him out the water and had an epiphany: he had nobody to tie him down to his mortal point. Everyone that he cares about is at the mercy of Ouranos. Zoë, Thalia, his mom, Paul, his new sister, Estelle, that he never got to know, the hunters; they're all at the mercy of the Lord of the Sky. At this thought the cloud that had been covering Perseus' mind had been lifted, his visioned cleared and he was able to see through the indescribable pain he was in.

Percy hit the bottom of the river, still recoiling in pain, and in one agonizing motion, grabbed a ledge of the nearby wall. He did this again with his other arm, each moment of being under the water putting him through more and more of unimaginable pain, only his will and perseverance keeping him alive.

Percy, still envisioning his mortal point, grabbed up higher with his arm - not having the strength to kick his legs up - and scaled the wall once more, each movement brining even more inconceivable agony upon his nearly broken body. Percy bore through the pain, and raised his other arm, he would not die here; not by some stupid river; not ever.

As Percy raised his arm to climb the wall once more, the pain increased tenfold and Percy nearly lost consciousness; it was if the very river itself was trying to kill him. Percy forced himself through, this was a trial by fire, he can not fail. Percy raised his right hand, grabbed the wall, and pulled himself up. As Percy's head broke through the water, he was able to feel his legs again and immediately kicked himself upwards. Soon enough Perseus' shoulders followed his head and he immediately grasped for a nearby rock and started pulling himself out of the water.

Percy emerged on the bank of the river, his body still shuddering in pain. As Percy calmed down and the pain of the river dissapeared, he took in his surroundings. He noticed that he had been laying in a volcanic, black glass and immediately grasped a shard in his hand; it didn't cut him. He obtained the Curse of Achilles once more, a feat done by no man, monster, or god.

The ground started shaking, "Your scent is strong Son of the Sea, you can run, but you will not escape me this time!" Percy knew that voice: Polybotes. Something inside Percy snapped, he didn't know why, maybe it was an accumulation of all of the bullshit the fates had thrown at him added up, maybe he was tired of fighting the same giant over and over again, maybe it was the Curse of Achilles, maybe it was all three, he'd never know.

Percy held out his hand and watched as his beloved spear and shield came flying out the river. As the two weapons hit his hand, he charged towards the sound of the voice, each step he took sending tremors throughout the ground. Percy was going to throw out all moral restrictions he had put upon himself; down here, his spear will become the most feared weapon since the rule of Kronos. Percy watched as the familiar ethereal golden glow appeared on his weapon with a smile on his face; Polybotes will wish he stayed in whatever cave he lived in.

Percy stood on top of a small cliff and watched the giant and his army below him. Channeling his power into the point of his spear, he threw it right into the eye of Polybotes, who was still around 100ft away. The giant screamed in pain, from both the destructive powers of the spear and Percy's own power over earthquakes that is splitting Polybotes' entire body down in half. Percy looked down at the monster army below him and did what could make the list of 'Percy's Stupid Life Descisions': he jumped.

Percy in mid air, Riptide in hand, stabbed down into the head of an unsuspecting drakon. The legendary sword had cut straight through the monster's skull and Percy's momentum carried him all the way to the ground where Riptide sank hilt deep. Percy had never stopped channeling his powers as the son of the earthshaker and the quake that followed could be felt from every corner of the vast expanse that is Tartarus. Most of the army ran away in fear while Percy was catching his breath; all the better for him. Let the monsters run, let them know who's down here. Percy quickly finished off the last of the monsters who were either too foolish or too weak to run. He turned his attention to the giant who was still convulsing in pain.

Polybotes had been desperately trying to get the spear out of his eye to no avail, everytime he moved another earthquake would rattle his brain, leaving him in more pain then what he started in. "Let me help with that." Percy said as he yanked his spear out with a twist. Polybotes let out a feral scream of pain, "Curse.. you.. Son of Poseidon. There are... no gods here.. I will heal and kill you."

A part of Percy knew he was right, and another part of him was telling him to stab his spear straight through the giant's heart. Percy went with option two, seeing that there was no real option one and watched in shock as the cracks spread throughout the giant's crippled body. From those cracks, a deep sea blue light had been released and went straight to Perseus. As the light hit Percy, he experienced some pain, but barely felt it as he watched in shock as the Bane of Poseidon dissolve into black dust. Apparently, he doesn't need an immortal at his side, only the weapon of one.

As Percy noticed there weren't any enemies left to fight, he immediately collapsed; the events of the day and the effects of the Curse of Achilles taking its toll.

—

Throne Room of Olympus

3rd POV

As the hunters explained the events that had transpired, you could see the gods' trepidation build up with each passing second. Many were well at hiding it, but a select few were gripping their thrones so tightly some feared they might break. At the mention of Perseus falling into the unknown pit, that seemed to be the final straw for Poseidon's throne and a loud crack rang throughout the room; sensing the tension emitting from the Sea God, everyone decided it was best to not mention it.

The gods sent the hunters to Artemis' palace and started reviewing among themselves the events of the day. As Zeus was silently mulling over the details of the story, a small, barely noticeable earthquake hit the throne room and Hades flashed in. Hades had been absent from the meeting due to him investigating a problem within the Underworld, the gods hadn't asked for details; it was probably something beyond their knowledge. "I believe I have the answer to both of our problems." The Lord of the Underworld exclaimed. "The pit Perseus fell into was the new entrance I had been investigating. That pit leads straight to Tartarus."

Pandemonium broke out within the council; Hades had tried to help by covering the room in shadows, however it only seemed to worsen the situation. All talking immediately ceased as another, much larger earthquake hit the throne room. All the gods looked to Poseidon who had stopped his wallowing to look around in confusion.

Hades cleared his throat, "That would be Perseus, my sources say he had landed in the River Styx upon his arrival in The Pit, and is currently fighting an army of monsters led by some immortal. How he's still alive, I haven't the slightest notion; knowing Perseus, the child had probably pulled himself out the river." As the gods looked at Hades to continue he just shrugged, " That's all I have, the information is never specific, and going down there myself is too dangerous."

Poseidon left in a sea breeze, probably needing some time alone; he had just discovered his son was in Tartarus after all. Zeus looked at the throne of his brother in sadness, "I vote we have a follow up meeting in a week and give everyone some time to think over the details." The council murmured their agreements and Zeus called the meeting to an end