𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐜 ➵ 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐲 𝐣𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐬𝐨𝐧

: ̗̀➛ 𝗦𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗘𝗡 who needs air force when u have dr chase

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┌── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──┐

The horrible thing was that Percy could see the family resemblance. Atlas had the same regal expression as Zoe, the same cold, proud look in his eyes that Zoe sometimes got when she was mad, though on him it looked evil. 

"Let Artemis go," Zoë demanded.

Atlas walked closer to the chained goddess. "Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her, then? Be my guest."

Zoe opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis said, "No! Do not offer, Zoe! I forbid you."

Atlas smirked. He knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.

"Hoo-hoo," Atlas chuckled. "You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new post. I think I'll have all the Olympians share this burden once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the centre of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humanity."

Peryc's eyes flicked to Annabeth. She was desperately trying to tell them something. She motioned her head towards Luke.  But he could only focus on the grey streak in her hair.

"From holding the sky," Thalia muttered, her voice low. "The weight should've killed her."

"I don't understand," Percy said. "What can't Artemis just let go of the sky?"

Atlas laughed. "How little you understand, young one. This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape." Atlas smiled. "Unless someone else takes it from you."

He approached the demigods, studying Devi, Thalia, and Percy. "So these are the best heroes of the age, eh? Not much of a challenge."

"Fight us," Percy said boldly. "And let's see."

"Have the gods taught you nothing? An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."

"You just sound like a coward." Devi sneered.

Percy's eyes widened. For a second, he forgot how to breathe. He was shocked she'd said it so boldly to Atlas's face, but at the same time, he was ridiculously impressed—and stupidly proud. He wished he'd thought to say it first.

Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred, his hand squeezing into a fist. "You have no right to speak, daughter of Apollo. You've always been a coward. This is only your first quest." He then slowly released his hand from a fist, a sense of realization washing over his face. "Death is close for you either way."

Death? 

Surely, he was saying that to scare them, Percy thought.

He turned his attention to Thalia. "As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."

"I wasn't wrong," Luke managed. He looked terribly weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful. Percy almost caught himself feeling sorry for him. "Thalia, you can still join us. Call the Ophiotarus. It will come to you. Look!"

He waved his hand, and next to them a pool of water appeared: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus. Percy could imagine Bessie in that pool. In fact, the more Percy thought about it, the more he was sure he could hear Bessie mooing.