A second chance

Mist

"Her file is empty! NOTHING! Every confrontation leaves me injured! DAMAGED!" Kronos roared, his voice shaking the very earth beneath their feet. "My lord, we do have some information about her. She's the offspring of Hel—." Atlas's words were abruptly halted by Kronos's outburst. "YES, I'M AWARE! I KNOW SHE'S A PUREBLOOD. Her accursed mother~." The Titan's expression twisted into a scornful sneer.

"I'll eliminate Artemis's Hunters and weaken that cursed Goddess," Atlas vowed, bowing. "I swear it by the River Styx." Thunder reverberated, sealing the pact. "Then I'll leave you to it." Kronos's countenance transformed into a haunting grin before the ground consumed him.

Approaching the throne of the Titan king, Atlas seated himself. "Prepare yourselves. The Shadow Queen, Jin Hawk, daughter of Hades and from the royal bloodline of Odysseus. If we can weaken or eliminate her, victory will be within our grasp."

"Well, well. Greetings, you repulsive creature," Thalia announced, rising from the ground, surrounded by thirty Hunters of Artemis with Damien at her side.

"Ah, Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus, how delightful of you to join us," Atlas greeted, rising and flexing his knuckles.

"My pleasure," Thalia replied, conjuring a bolt of white lightning aimed at Atlas.

Atlas raised his hand, allowing the bolt to strike it. "A mere tickle," he quipped, inspecting his hand. "Let me reciprocate!" In an instant, the Huntress next to Thalia became a pool of crimson mush. "This isn't a game, girl. Lord Kronos has merely been playing until now," Atlas's tone was grave and unforgiving. "I intend to obliterate you all."

Damien notched an arrow, launching it at Atlas's shoulders as everyone scattered. Though Atlas extracted the arrow, the wound didn't mend. His eyes widened in disbelief. Seizing the opportunity, Thalia lunged at Atlas, electricity crackling around her as she impaled him with her spear.

A surge of white lightning coursed through the golden weapon and into Atlas's body. He bellowed in agony as the Huntresses aimed their arrows, peppering his body. Damien's arrow found its mark in the Titan's eye. "AGGHHH." Atlas roared, but he remained standing. Charging forward, he ruthlessly tore through the Huntresses. "DO—," Thalia's words were cut short as she was flung away, crashing into the side of the throne, unconscious.

Damien stood as the lone figure left. "Gods above," he silently prayed as Atlas charged towards him. Evading Atlas's right cross, Damien maneuvered, seizing his knife. As Atlas swung, Damien sidestepped, slashing down the Titan's chest and flinging him over his shoulder.

Atlas rose as his wound slowly healed. Damien charged, aiming his knife at the Titan's face. Atlas blocked Damien's hand, initiating his counterattack. A powerful punch landed in Damien's abdomen, causing the son of Apollo to groan but change his grip on the knife, forcing his hand free. "I shouldn't be alive," Damien murmured to himself.

Striking Atlas with his fist this time, Damien's left cross went unnoticed by the Titan, who was fixated on the knife. Unseen, Damien prepared his kick, slamming his leg into Atlas's side. A sickening crunch ensued. Damien grabbed Atlas's head and drove it full-force into his knee.

Grasping the Titan's hair, Damien exerted all his strength, slamming Atlas's face into the throne room floor. Stepping back, Damien poised himself with the knife pointed at Atlas's body.

Atlas swiftly rose. "In all my years, I've sustained such damage only a few times. But, as I said, the time for games is over. Your flurry of blows took me by surprise~." Atlas cracked his neck. Damien remained composed, though he could feel himself slowing. Nevertheless, Damien readied himself once more.

Damien struck Atlas, stabbing and slashing. Atlas regained his composure, beginning to deflect the attacks. As Damien thrust forward, Atlas leaned back, positioning himself to Damien's left. With astonishing speed, he landed a devastating punch to Damien's ribs. A sickening crack and pop sounded as blood poured from Damien's nose, and he spat it out as he collapsed. "It was fun, demigod, but now you must die." Damien glared at Atlas as the Titan raised his fist. With a thunderous blow, a cloud of stone and blood soared into the air, enveloping Atlas in red.

"FIND THE DAUGHTER OF HADES!" Atlas commanded the nearby monsters. "Yes, sir!" They acknowledged and rushed towards the stairs. "Master Krios, Master Hyperion?" Two Cyclopes questioned as they ascended the throne room stairs. "ATLAS!" Hyperion bellowed as he stormed up, pushing past the Cyclopes. "What, Hyperion?" Atlas inquired, his wounds closing as he cleaned the blood and dust from his face. Noticing Krios behind Hyperion, the two brothers, dressed in red and black suits, stood together.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Hyperion roared. "ALL THE MONSTERS ON THE BOTTOM AND MIDDLE FLOORS OF THE MOUNTAIN ARE DEAD!"

"Calm yourself. Don't forget your place, Hyperion. The Hunters of Artemis have been eradicated," Atlas revealed, gesturing towards the ruined throne room. "You fool. WHERE'S YOUR DAUGHTER?" Atlas's eyes widened as he surveyed his surroundings. "DAMN IT." He cursed, turning to the Titans. "Find them and eliminate them. Bring Zoe back to me alive." Atlas commanded. "We can't do that. A MUCH bigger problem has emerged," Krios approached Atlas. "Artemis is free."