Forgotten prophecy

Chapter 61

As far as traveling companions went, Erebus may very well have been the worst for Ryker. The already stressful journey through the Underworld was made even more so by the constantly disappearing and reappearing god. The commentary was even more unhelpful, and much more annoying. "You know, you could probably move a lot faster if you used your newfound ability." Erebus quipped, his hands in the pockets of a black and silver suit he had donned upon his last return. "You know, the one I showed you. The one that had been overwhelming you until I so kindly showed you how to control. Ringing any bells?"

"Maybe I would if you would tell me where I was going!" Ryker snapped, brandishing the compass. "Instead of following this thing!"

"No can do." Erebus smiled. "Although at your current pace you won't make it back in time for the party topside. Tartarus just revealed his army to your demigod friends and the gods. Apparently he is giving them a week's time to prepare themselves. You know, I may not like my brother but that was rather kind of him. Of course, he might only be doing that so his army of corrupted demigods can be satiated with an adequate battle. So maybe not so kind. Kind of sadistic now that I think about it."

"Do you ever stop talking?" Ryker wondered, vaulting over a waist high rock. Erebus's ramblings had long since become commonplace and the son of Cybele was more than used to them now. He sighed and shook his head, glancing up at the sky of the Underworld. "One week, huh? And you don't think we'll make it in time."

"At this pace?" Erebus repeated, "I sincerely doubt it. And, trust me, you don't want to be late to this particular gathering. Without an added boost your friends at Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood won't last more than a day. At most. Even with the gods' full support. Tartarus has many of the Giants and Titans fighting for him. In addition to that, Tartarus has procured a weapon capable of killing the gods."

"You and Rhea have both mentioned this weapon." Ryker noted, glancing back to Erebus and raising an eyebrow. "What is it?"

"Demigods." Erebus said simply. "Well, in a manner of speaking at any rate. Demigods are the most dangerous thing for gods as they are capable of using divine abilities. You saw it yourself when you took on Python. Artemis's bow is absurdly powerful, capable of wounding Zeus himself. And each god has such weapons at their beck and call. Twisting and corrupting demigods so they can destroy the gods wouldn't even have been that hard I imagine. All Tartarus would have needed would have been a supply of demigods. That is where Orion came in."

"So how did he do it?" Ryker asked. "Orion said that they are still alive, the captured demigods that is. Why not just kill them?"

"In case he needs to make more." Erebus shrugged. "That would be my guess anyways. Maybe he just likes having them as ornaments. I understand that his realm isn't particularly decorative. A demigod or a couple dozen could really spruce up the place. Personally I would have hired a redecorator, but hey, I'm not judging."

"What do you mean, make more?" Ryker asked, keen to keep the conversation on track and Erebus away from one of his many tangents.

"The blood of demigods is powerful, extraordinarily so. Think of it like a liquid catalyst of the most dangerous proportions. And that is only if it is taken forcibly. If offered willingly the danger factor increases to a completely different level. My guess would be that Tartarus has been torturing your friends until they willingly parted with their blood. With blood willingly given by demigods and enough time, it is no surprise that Tartarus figured out a way to create his own army of corrupted demigods. My guess would be that they are nothing like the originals though. It's likely that their personalities were corrupted as well, not to mention the influence Tartarus has likely had on them. It would not surprise me in the least to discover that Tartarus has not even told them that they were copies. It would make it even easier for them to kill their friends, family, and the gods."