Sky watched as the large envoy made its way through the open gate. The large wagons, being drawn by horses, were tattered and broken, some losing both wheels and simply being dragged. The half-bloods were in no better shape than the wagons. Most of them were covered in blood with a few missing arms, legs and a rare few being only wrapped in bandages. Slowly the envoy trudged through the gate, bringing with them despair and a strange heaviness.
"Tragic…" Atlas murmured.
Snap! Crack! KRRR!! The ground around Sky's feet started breaking as the small cracks that were appearing grew larger and larger. Suddenly a thick, green vine tore out grabbing Sky's waist and sliding up his back, pulling his arms apart and raising him into the air.
"AAGHH!!" Sky yelled as his wounds burned.
FHSOOM!! Prometheus leaped up and burnt the plant down, grabbing Sky and bringing him to the ground.
SLINK! SHOOOOM!!! Kronos heard the faint sound and opened his palm towards it. A giant dial appeared followed by a powerful gust of wind, kicking up the dirt and sending raindrops flying. When it had settled, Max's body could be seen inches from Kronos' face, frozen mid swing.
TWING! Another sharp sound echoed from the distance. Quickly Jennifer reached into her bag and pulled out a large clump of powder. She opened her hand and blew into it, summoning a giant pink wall.
WHAM! CAW!!! A large fiery bird slammed into it, clawing and scratching at the wall to no avail before fading away.
KR! Crack! DRAAA!!! A monstrous vine, similar to the one that latched onto Sky, erupted from beneath Kronos breaking the hold on Max. Quickly He jumped and avoided it, landing next to Prometheus. When he looked to where Max should've been there was nothing. Suddenly the temperature behind him started to increase as the rain started sizzling. Kronos quickly spun around, summoning his scythe and slicing the air, ripping apart another fiery bird that was flying towards them and briefly stopping the rain.
"Jen…" Whispered a voice, causing Jennifer to spin around. "Capture the son of Zeus."
When she looked there was no one, only a stream of wind blowing past and disrupted raindrops. When she looked forward again, Max was standing in front, a devilish look on his face, and his staff raised. "Made you look!" He smiled as he brought down his staff.
Tick! Kronos snapped his fingers, freezing Max again. "There's a lot more I can do now that I don't have to keep the barrier up you know." He looked at Jennifer who nodded shakily.
KRR!!! CRACK! KR!!! CRACK!!! One again the ground started breaking as large green tendrils started tearing out near Prometheus. They latched onto one another as smaller ones ripped through the skin of the larger ones wrapping and creating a humanoid. After a moment a large wooden golem, twice the size of a giant, stood in front of Prometheus.
"HAND OVER THE SON OF ZEUS!!" It's voice boomed.
"Agh." Prometheus sighed, "They never learn do they?"
Five glowing balls of red started forming across Prometheus' shoulder creating a small bubble around him where no rain fell. They rose into the sky and grew, getting larger and hotter as they did so. Prometheus tossed Sky to Atlas and ran towards the golem.
"Kronos!" He shouted as the golem pulled back a giant punch.
Just as it was about to bring it forwards Kronos flicked something at the golem, freezing its arm for a split second and throwing it off balance. Prometheus leapt into the air and with two fingers on each hand orchestrated the orbs to latch onto each limb and head, burning everything they touched as they slowly crawled towards the center. As quickly as the golem had been created, it disappeared, leaving traces of ash and burned roots where it once stood.
Atlas watched as the chaos enfolded before him. The fearful and helpless look on the faces of the half-bloods who had just come back from a battle only to see another one. He looked at the face of Max, gleeful and excited while turning in the direction of the arrow shot, sensing joy and eagerness.
THWAK! An arrow froze in front of his chest, it suddenly caught fire and burst out liquid flames, like lava, burning the ground around Atlas and Sky, yet the two remained unhurt and untouched. There was a black flicker near the gate. Atlas knew what was to come next. A large fissure started tearing the earth in front of him as it grew closer and closer. From around him skeletal hands could be seen crawling out of the ground. Another vine swung at Kronos, breaking the freeze on Max and allowing him to vanish.
From the corner of his eye a rainbow sea of arrows could be seen in the dark sky, getting closer and closer. The plants around their feet started getting thicker and larger, hiding their vision.
"The child!!" Hissed a cold voice as a shadow darkened upon Atlas.
"ENOUGH!!" Atlas shouted, slamming his staff into the ground, sending a shockwave around them, kicking up a dust cloud and sending raindrops flying upwards.
Silence overtook the area as the dust settled slowly and the rain resumed its normal flow. When Sky looked up at Atlas, all he could see were two silver eyes shining furiously through the clouds. Once everything had settled the bodies of Bahrny, Max, Carla and Claire could be seen glued to the ground by some invisible force.
"Heavy…" Max managed to croak through a mouthful of dirt.
When Sky looked in front of him he finally saw Bahrny, the man everyone feared. Even being stuck to the ground, he growled and shouted, clawing and grabbing at whatever he could, attempting to push himself up, slowly but certainly crawling towards Sky. It was as if a beast had possessed him.
Atlas walked forwards and crouched down. "You and I need to have a talk." He said to Bahrny.
In the distance Sky saw a familiar figure, a man carrying a spear with his orange hair tied back. Quickly Sky ran over, but as he got closer and closer he noticed he was sobbing, struggling even to open his eyes as he trudged forwards.
"DON!" Sky shouted as he got closer. "DON!"
Once Don had noticed Sky he latched onto him. Clenching him tightly as he cried harder and harder. "Don, are you ok?" He asked.
"It's…my….fault…" He sobbed.
Sky watched him unable to understand. "What do you mean?" He asked.
"Lucy… Lucy… it's my fault…" He sobbed.
KRAKOW!! Lightning flashed in the sky followed by a deep rumbling thundercloud.
A cold chill ran down Sky's arms and back as a strange weakness started settling in. His breath became shorter and faster. "What… What happened to Lucy?" Sky asked nervously.
"She's… dead." He broke down.