Chapter 26: The Battle Begins

The air crackled with tension as Percy and Annabeth stood their ground, the monstrous entity advancing with a sinister growl. Its eyes glowed with an eerie light, fixated on the chamber housing the artifact.

Percy tightened his grip on his sword, Riptide, feeling the familiar weight in his hand. "Annabeth, get to the camp and warn the others. I'll hold it off."

Annabeth's eyes flashed with determination. "We're in this together, Seaweed Brain. I'm not leaving you alone."

Before Percy could protest, the creature lunged, its massive form barreling towards them with surprising speed. Percy and Annabeth moved in unison, their training and bond guiding their actions as they dodged the initial attack.

"Remember our training!" Annabeth called out, her voice steady despite the chaos.

Percy nodded, his focus narrowing on the creature. He swung Riptide, the celestial bronze blade cutting through the air and striking the creature's hide. Sparks flew as the blade met resistance, but the creature barely flinched.

"It's tougher than I thought," Percy muttered, gritting his teeth.

Annabeth circled to the creature's side, her own weapon ready. "We need to find a weakness."

As the battle raged on, the creature's relentless attacks kept them on their toes. Each strike from Percy and Annabeth seemed to do little more than irritate the beast, its roars echoing across the campgrounds.

Suddenly, a new presence emerged from the shadows. Clarisse, wielding her spear, charged into the fray with a battle cry. "You didn't think I'd let you have all the fun, did you?"

Grover wasn't far behind, his pan flute at the ready to summon nature's aid. "We're all in this together," he declared, his eyes filled with determination.

With the arrival of their friends, the tide of the battle began to shift. Clarisse's powerful strikes and Grover's nature magic provided the support Percy and Annabeth needed to gain an advantage.

"We need to drive it back into the portal," Annabeth shouted, her voice rising above the din of battle. "It's our best chance!"

Percy nodded, his mind racing as he formulated a plan. "Clarisse, Grover, keep it distracted. Annabeth and I will work on the portal."

The team moved in sync, their attacks coordinated and relentless. The creature, now facing multiple foes, seemed momentarily disoriented.

Percy and Annabeth focused their efforts on the swirling vortex above, their combined powers seeking to stabilize it. With each surge of their energy, the portal pulsed and flickered, drawing the creature's attention.

"It's working!" Percy shouted, feeling the portal's pull grow stronger.

But just as victory seemed within reach, the ground beneath them trembled violently. A second portal began to form, its dark energy resonating with the first. From its depths, a shadowy figure emerged—the same man who had appeared earlier.

"Fools," the man sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "You think you can defeat me? This is only the beginning."

Percy and Annabeth exchanged a look of grim determination. The battle was far from over, and the true threat had just revealed itself.

With a renewed sense of urgency, they prepared for the fight of their lives, knowing that the fate of the artifact—and the world—hung in the balance.

Chapter 26 ends with Percy and his friends facing a new threat as a second portal opens, revealing a shadowy figure, heightening the stakes and leaving their fate uncertain. If you have any more requests or questions, feel free to ask!