Betrayal

19

"Okay everyone, listen up. This Reyna, your Praetor speaking. I joined the hero Percy Jackson when he went down to Tartarus to get stronger. I know many of you may have reservations about how his personality changed when he came back.

"But I can assure you he is still the same Percy he was back then. He is still doing his best to make sure as many people survive and make it out of this alive. I have talked to Percy and Praetor Zhang, and I believe we need to solve a fundamental problem.

"The demigods here are just not strong enough. As it stands, the only capable fighters we have are those of us that were in Tartarus with Percy, Percy himself, and the gods. While against common monster, the demigods can stand a chance at survival, that will only work for a few more years before even stronger monsters start showing up. Monsters that are older than even the Gods and Titans will be entering the battle in the next decade. This will not be a short war. This may span several generations.

"But know we have a plan. We would like volunteers to go to Tartarus to train with those of us that were with Percy down there. A Primordial is down there waiting on our answer to assist us in making you stronger, but we will not force you. It has to be your choice to join this fight. If you go to Tartarus to train, you will be expected to work with the Legion for a minimum of three years. Anything after that is extra service.

"I would also like to note, those who join will be given better living conditions, and should your service exceed the mandatory time, extra conditions can be negotiated upon you leaving the service. This will be treated like a military service. I will not conscript soldiers. Your choice to not join will only be yours to bear. If we lose this war due to lack of troops, those of us who survive will have no means to escape. We have set up registration tables in the dining hall. Please make your way there if you would like to join."

The assembled demigods broke out into a cacophony of noise as they began to discuss with their fellow siblings and friends on what they would do. At first it seemed like few would join, as it was not a pleasant idea to go into the Pit willingly, nor have to face off against endless hordes of monsters. But the enticement of better living quarters, and the fact that if they were to ultimately lose, then everyone would die anyways, started to sway a large majority.

"Praetor, we have a few questions!" someone called out.

Reyna who had begun walking away turned back towards the gathered group. "Go ahead. I'll try to answer what I can."

"How long will we have to train down there?"

Reyna looked at the speaker. "I honestly do not know. That has yet to be determined. Expect at least a few years in our time. Understand that time in Tartarus flows different than here. Some places it's a shorter span, some, a much longer span. We were in the Heart of Tartarus for a year your time, but for us, it was nearly three."

The demigods shuddered. To have to be in the Pit for so long was not an appealing idea. "What about our service? Are we expected to risk everything in trying to-"

Reyna cut them off. "You will follow orders. If you join, you will be held to the highest of standards. You will excute all orders to the best of your abilities. You saw the last two wars. Take the difficulty of them, combine them, and then multiply them. That is what we are facing. You will find your courage, or, you will wait for impending doom. I do not say this to scare you, but to make you aware. The less people who help, the lower our chances of survival become. Just understand, whatever you go through, understand that those of us that will be with Perseus, will be going through much worse. We will take the riskiest of missions, the hardest of battles, and the biggest brunt of attacks. So, are you really willing to just sit around and wait for the end, or are you going to try and ensure everyone's survival?"

With that said, Reyna walked away. Nothing more needed to be said. The Roman Legionnaires would never listen to her say such things and then not devote themselves to the cause. They were fighters through and through. Whether the Greeks listened, that could wait to be seen. It wasn't that she didn't trust them to make the right decision, it was that she wasn't sure they could be counted on in the way Romans could. Plus, they had already shown that they could be easily swayed when they turned on Percy two years ago.

Much to her surprise, a majority of all demigods signed up to fight, or at the least, be part of the war effort. The more support-oriented groups, such as the Hephaestus, or Vulcan, kids and others of a similar crafting nature, chose to stay behind to begin preparations in the forge to supply the war machine. The Apollo campers sent their healers to the sick bay to begin readying it for receiving casualties, while the ones with light-based abilities enlisted to go down into Tartarus. Excluding a select few demigods, everyone truly prepared to fight or assist the war effort. Even the parents or legacies joined in unless they had young children.

She was surprised by their level of dedication, as she was expecting a lesser turn out, due to the fear and nature of the whole ordeal. Not that she was unhappy with the outcome, just stunned. When Percy returned, even he was a little impressed by the turnout. In front of him stood nearly eight hundred demigods or legacies ready to go into the Pit to train, with almost two hundred others staying back to prepare the war machine that would be their resistance. To say this was a good turn out and a light in the darkness was almost an understatement. Almost, if they weren't up against three of the strongest beings out there.