𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐑𝐔𝐒𝐇 [Jason Grace]

103

𝐀𝐬 𝐬𝐨𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐆𝐚𝐞𝐚 𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐨𝐟𝐟, the ground solidified.

Demigods stopped sinking, though many were still buried up to their waists. Sadly, the monsters seemed to be digging themselves out more quickly. They charged the Greek and Roman ranks, taking advantage of the demigods' disorganization.

Jason flew up to Dante, pausing his confusion when he found two of him along with a satyr.

"You heard the captain," Jason grinned, grabbing Dante's hand and helping him out of the mud. "We gotta go."

"The archnemesis!" Dorian grinned when Jason offered his hand. His hands were already covered in mud, but Jason didn't mind. He gripped tightly and helped him out.

It was weird to see the two side by side, with the only difference being Dante's eyes. The more Jason stared though, the more differences he found. Dorian was grinning while Dante scowled and rolled his eyes. Dorian was skinnier compared to Dante and he even held himself differently.

Dante, who had grown up in the Legion, had impeccable posture, but Dorian seemed to slouch a little. His hair too was shorter than Dante's.

"Boyfriend now," Jason couldn't help answering.

Dorian's mouth fell open but before he could say anything Dante grabbed Jason, "Gotta go, long story, lots of monsters to kill, bye!"

Chuckling, Jason put his arms around Dante's waist. He was about to take off when Percy yelled, "Wait! Frank can fly the rest of us up there! We can all—"

"No, man," Jason said. "They need you here. There's still an army to defeat. Besides, the prophecy—"

"He's right." Grover gripped Percy's arm. Percy stared at his friend in shock as if he hadn't noticed him. "You have to let them do this, Percy. This part can only be them."

Percy obviously didn't like it, but at that moment a flood of monsters swept over the Greek forces. Annabeth called to him, "Hey! Problem over here!" Percy and Grover ran to join her.

Frank and Hazel turned to Jason. They raised their arms in the Roman salute, then ran off to regroup the legion.

Jason and Dante spiraled upward on the wind.

"Don't die," Dante ordered.

"I'll try."

Jason realized Dante had only one dagger now, but he doubted it would matter. Against Gaea, a dagger would do no good. This was about storm and fire... and a third power, Dante's power over the mist.

Trickery and Magic and incredible combination.

Jason had seen how good Dante had gotten with his powers, in Tartarus and in the mortal world as well. Now he would have an even bigger job. This wasn't like fighting a giant born to oppose the three fates while Hermes roller skated around them.

As they ascended, Jason gathered the wind and clouds around him. The sky responded with frightening speed. Soon they were in the eye of a maelstrom. Lightning burned his eyes. Thunder made his teeth vibrate.

Directly above them, Festus grappled with the earth goddess. Gaea kept disintegrating, trying to trickle back to the ground, but the winds kept her aloft. Festus sprayed her with flames, which seemed to force her into solid form. Meanwhile, from Festus's back, Leo blasted the goddess with flames of his own and hurled insults. "Potty Sludge! Dirt Face! THIS IS FOR MY MOTHER, ESPERANZA VALDEZ!"

His whole body was wreathed in fire. Rain hung in the stormy air, but it only sizzled and steamed around him.

Jason zoomed towards them.