The rise of Tartarus

Chapter 8

Percy POV

The Labyrinth stretched endlessly around us, a twisted maze that seemed to pulse with life. Annabeth and I pressed forward, our hearts racing. Each step felt like a challenge against an ancient force that wanted to keep us trapped within its grasp.

"Stay close," I said, glancing around as shadows flickered at the edges of our torchlight. "We have to keep moving."

As we navigated the dark corridors, the air grew thick with tension. Suddenly, a distant rumble echoed through the labyrinth, like the growl of a waking beast. I exchanged a worried glance with Annabeth.

"What was that?" she asked, her grip tightening on her dagger.

"I don't know, but it doesn't sound good," I replied, my instincts screaming at me to be on guard.

Before we could react, the ground trembled, and from the shadows emerged a horde of monstrous figures—grotesque creatures with glowing eyes, their twisted forms moving with predatory grace. My heart sank. It was an army, and they were coming for us.

"Percy!" Annabeth shouted, raising her weapon. "We need to fight them off!"

The first wave surged forward, a combination of gorgons, hellhounds, and skeletal warriors. I drew Riptide, its blade shimmering in the dim light as I prepared to defend us.

"Annabeth, watch your back!" I yelled, slicing through a hellhound that lunged at her. The creature let out a horrific yelp before collapsing in a heap.

Annabeth was a whirlwind of motion, her dagger flashing as she took down a gorgon with precise strikes. "There are too many of them!" she exclaimed, her brow furrowed in concentration.

As we fought, I could feel the overwhelming pressure of the monsters closing in around us. They didn't just seem random; they felt coordinated, as if they were part of a larger strategy.

"Percy, I think Tartarus is building an army!" Annabeth yelled between breaths, cutting down another gorgon. "These monsters—this isn't just a random attack. They're being summoned, organized. He's planning something big!"

Just as I finished dispatching a group of monsters, I heard a familiar shout echoing from the depths of the Labyrinth. "Percy! Annabeth!"

I turned to see Jason and Piper fighting their way toward us, surrounded by a similar horde of monsters. Jason's sword flashed like lightning, while Piper wielded her charmspeak to disorient their attackers.

"Get to us!" I shouted, trying to carve a path through the chaos.

They fought their way closer, but the tide of monsters was relentless. The walls of the Labyrinth seemed to close in on us, urging us to succumb to despair.

Suddenly, with a loud crash, a section of the Labyrinth shifted, creating a narrow passageway that led deeper into the maze.

"Go!" Annabeth shouted, her voice rising above the chaos. "We have to escape!"

With no time to think, we dove into the opening, squeezing through just as the monsters poured in behind us. The passageway twisted and turned, each step feeling more urgent as the sounds of battle faded into the distance.

Finally, we tumbled into a wider chamber, panting and disoriented. The walls around us pulsed ominously, and the faint glow of light flickered as if warning us to keep moving.

"We need to keep going," I said, breathless. "We can't let them regroup."

Annabeth nodded, glancing back as the echo of monstrous roars reverberated through the labyrinth. "We barely made it out of there. We can't let them catch up."

With adrenaline still coursing through our veins, we hurried deeper into the Labyrinth, knowing that every moment counted. We had escaped this encounter, but the danger was far from over.