Chapter 87: A God Rises

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A/N: Getting that divine POV for Percy and Atlas' showdown~

-x-X-x-

Artemis, Maiden Goddess of the Hunt, the Moon, and Archery, Lady of the Forest, and Mistress of the Animals… had definitely had better weeks. Going on a solo hunt for the Ophiotaurus had been a spur of the moment thing when she'd caught traces of its whereabouts and she probably should have told her second in command what she was doing, but Artemis had feared there wasn't time to waste.

Ever since her father died, whispers of Kronos' return had grown louder and louder. Even the Council of Olympians that had taken over leading the Pantheon had begun openly talking about the Crooked One and his scheming.

With the Titan King trying to return, something like the Ophiotaurus could not be allowed to exist in this era. Killing it and leaving it reconstituting for the foreseeable future had truly seemed like the best idea at the time.

Unfortunately, it was a trap. What she had thought were traces of the Ophiotaurus were in fact carefully orchestrated to lure her away from her followers so that she could be ambushed by none other than Atlas himself. The Titan of Endurance had then brought her here, where Artemis had been left with a choice that was no choice at all.

They'd tricked a young woman into holding up the weight of the sky on her insufficient shoulders and it had been obvious from the moment Artemis laid eyes on her that she had mere hours to live, if not minutes. And so she'd done what she had to do to protect the poor maiden, taking her place so that she might survive.

This was, of course, playing right into the enemy's hands, but Artemis had faith in her Hunters. She had faith in her Lieutenant and the rest that they would not only find her, but also do everything in their power to rescue her and stop the scheming of the Titans.

… Unfortunately, all of Artemis' worst fears have been realized. Against all odds, the Ophiotaurus had been sacrificed anyways. She still didn't fully understand what happened or how it happened, but she certainly understood the power currently wafting off of Percy Jackson as he goes toe to toe with the second strongest Titan in existence.

The Nemean Lion's Pelt he's wearing as a coat can't even be fully blamed for how he's able to tank most of Atlas' hits like he is. Even the impervious quality of the Nemean Lion's fur wouldn't be enough against the Titan of Endurance. But that combined with the glow encompassing Percy and all of the others… well, that's something else entirely.

Golden ichor drips across the ground as the demigod and Titan fight, showing just how close Percy Jackson is to godhood at this point. He's ready to tip right over the edge, ready to ascend from even the smallest of things… and yet when Atlas had offered her up like a divine buffet for the Son of Poseidon to sup from, Percy had refused.

Artemis couldn't even begin to fathom what sort of ritual or plan the Titans had devised that would allow one to drain her divinity and life force to give it to a demigod, but if Percy HAD agreed, than there would have been absolutely nothing that she nor any of the other women could have done about it.

She herself couldn't do anything but focus on the weight of the sky bearing down on her even now, while the others had been hopelessly outnumbered. Things were different now, with the enemy's immense numbers seeming to matter little in the face of the power Percy had gifted the others… but that was just it. It was Percy's power that was giving them the strength to fight back. It was Percy Jackson who was making any resistance whatsoever possible at this point.

Everything was beyond her worst possible fears. She should have been absolutely horrified by all that she was witnessing right now. Instead, however… Artemis feels something else entirely. Watching Percy go toe to toe with the Titan of Endurance on equal footing inspires hope, yes… b-but it also inspires other sensations deep within her. Sensations and emotions that Artemis hadn't thought herself capable of feeling.

It was, to put it succinctly, awe-inspiring to watch Percy fight Atlas as he was. Even if he had the power of the Ophiotaurus at his fingertips, even if he was very nearly a god already… he wasn't there yet. He was still a demigod even now, but that wasn't stopping him from trying to do his best to kill the Titan in front of him.

Trying… but not succeeding. And the more the fight went on, the more Atlas proved himself worthy of his moniker. The Titan of Endurance indeed. He'd held up the weight of the sky for thousands upon thousands of years without succumbing to his punishment. He could, quite literally, fight on forever.

Percy could not, but Artemis wasn't exactly in a position to help him, now was sh-

"Lady Artemis!"

Eyes widening, Artemis shifts her head to the side with great difficulty, turning her gaze away from the cataclysmic battle happening in front of her with great difficulty to see that her faithful Lieutenant has managed to sneak her way to her side. Or more accurately, Zoe has come for her because even if Atlas' endurance is unending, his subordinates decidedly are not.

Many have been defeated at this point, with even the traitorous demigod Luke Castellan pinned to the ground and held with a blade to his neck by the Daughter of Zeus, Thalia Grace. The tide of battle is slowly but surely turning in their favor, though that doesn't mean they've won yet… far from it, in fact.

"We need to get you out of there my lady!"

Artemis chuckles softly at that, speaking with great difficulty.

"You of all people… know it's not that simple… Zoe. Someone must hold… the sky. Lest it fall… and crush everyone beneath its weight."

Now obviously Artemis would prefer it wasn't her. She would prefer it very much in fact. But better her than nobody at all. She might not have much love for humans and their 'modern civilization', but there were still plenty of forests and plenty of wild animals to love and cherish. Not to mention the children and maidens, pure and innocent as they were.

So yes, she would continue to carry this burden if she had to. While at the same time hoping a solution could be found.

"Then… then I will take over, Goddess."

Artemis blinks at that, furrowing her brow in consternation. That was not the solution she had in mind.

"You wouldn't last… longer than a week… at most, Zoe."

But Zoe's determination doesn't fade. If anything it grows stronger.

"Then I'll be fine, because you're going to help Percy put my father back in this spot once I've freed you. Shouldn't take long at all knowing you, my lady."

Zoe's confidence and certainty in Artemis' abilities makes the Goddess blush a little even as her heart soars with pride. At the same time though, she can't help but hesitate.

"Help the… Son of Poseidon? You know not… what you ask of me… my Lieutenant."

Zoe though, is already slowly but surely pushing her way into place and dislodging a tired, worn out Artemis in the process.

"I know what I'm asking… my Goddess. I just ask… that you set aside… your differences… f-for now!"

With that, Artemis is freed and Zoe takes her place under the weight of the sky. Immediately, sweat begins to bead on the other woman's brow, her Lieutenant trembling and shaking under the strain in a way that Artemis had not.

Artemis, meanwhile, rises to her feet, standing up for the first time since she'd taken Rachel Dare's place and letting out a shuddering breath as she rolls her shoulders. Having full range of movement back is… more exhilarating then she ever would have thought possible.

"P-Please… Lady Artemis…"

Glancing down at her Lieutenant, Artemis purses her lips. She can't quite tell whether Zoe is still asking her to help Percy, or if she's now begging for Artemis to figure out a solution quickly so that she might be relieved of her terrible burden. The other woman doesn't seem capable of saying much more at this point.

In the end… it doesn't matter what Zoe intends with her words. Artemis knows what she has to do. Her hands come up and her trusty Silver Bow, forged by Hephaestus himself, materializes in her hands, coming to form in glimmers of moonlight.

At the same time, a quiver made of moonlight and silver forms on her back and she pulls an arrow free from it, notching it in her bow. Pulling back the string, Artemis aims at the fight directly in front of her. Neither combatant has noticed her freedom yet. Both are still too busy shouting obscenities at each other.

Or rather, Atlas is shouting obscenities. Percy Jackson keeps shouting 'FOR BRUNO' for some inexplicable reason. Either way, Artemis sights down the length of her arm, one eye closing as she considers her shot for a long moment and waits for the opening. Finally… she fires.

The silver arrow slams into the side of Atlas' head like a firework, albeit one with a thousand times the power of the best that the mortals had ever made. The attack is enough to make even the Titan of Endurance's head rock to the side, though it's not enough to kill him outright nor even permanently maim him.

It does, however, leave him bleeding from the temple and the ear on the side of his head where the arrow struck, even as he turns to her in a rage that defies reason. Atlas' eyes widen at seeing her free and then narrow upon flicking down to see who has taken her place.

There is no worry, nor love, nor fear for his daughter in the Titan of Endurance's eyes. Zoe might as well mean nothing to Atlas in the grand scheme of things. But then to be fair, Artemis already knew that the Titan was a terrible father.

Percy Jackson, meanwhile, doesn't hesitate to take advantage of the distraction she's provided. He slams into Atlas' side like a rampaging tempest, furiously hitting and kicking the Titan with all of his considerable empowered might.

Atlas stumbles, barely catching himself from falling as Percy drives him back… but it's not in the right direction. Artemis waits until Atlas manages to fling Percy away from him again and then moves to the demigod's side before he can throw himself back into the fray, whispering lowly for only his ears.

"Hold, Percy Jackson. My Lieutenant currently labors under the weight of the sky, sacrificing herself to free me. She needs our help!"

Percy tenses up for a moment, looking to where Zoe is and then scowling angrily as he glares balefully in Atlas' direction. Even still, he stays still and speaks out of the corner of his mouth.

"What do we do?"

Artemis licks her lips before responding just as quietly as before.

"We put the Titan of Endurance back where he belongs."

Any further elaboration would have risked Atlas hearing their planning. The only reason Artemis was confident that they could get away with their whispers anyways was because she'd temporarily deafened Atlas with her opening gambit.

Fortunately, Percy Jackson simply nods… and then launches himself forward again. But now, Artemis notices, the young demigod moves with purpose. Nemean Coat glittering as it flickers in the wind, Percy attacks Atlas like a man possessed but this time around, he has a goal.

Artemis supports him of course, her powerful bow allowing her to fire arrow after arrow at Atlas, harrying the Titan of Endurance from afar. Nothing like her initial attack lands of course but even forcing Atlas to lift an arm to block one of her shots means that the Titan leaves his ribs exposed. Exposed for Percy to hammer them with empowered fists bleeding golden ichor from their knuckles.

Inch by inch, foot by foot, they maneuver Atlas into position. Artemis fears that the Titan will notice what they're planning every step of the way, but it never happens.

Then again, if Atlas were truly as smart as he was always hyped up to be as Kronos' General, than the Olympians wouldn't have won the first Titanomachy. More than that, Heracles wouldn't have been able to trick Atlas into retrieving a golden apple and then returning to his punishment during the demigod's Thirteen Labors.

Finally, Percy lets out a roar and full-on dropkicks Atlas in the chest, jumping off the ground and planting both feet against the Titan of Endurance's torso right as Artemis disorients him with another distracting shot to his uninjured ear.

Stumbling backwards, Atlas doesn't realize where he is or what has happened until it's too late and he's pushed his daughter out of the way of his burden. As Zoe falls back onto her ass and quickly crawls away, the Titan of Endurance drops to one knee and then the other, roaring in anger as he finds himself once again bowed and brought low by the immense weight of the sky.

It's over. Or at least, that's what Artemis thinks anyways until Percy steps forward and begins to punch Atlas in the face.

"You fucking bastard! You rotten scumbag!"

Back and forth, he swings, turning the Titan's head this way and that and making Atlas truly bleed. Artemis certainly doesn't mind the extra punishment truth be told… but she steps forward all the same and grabs Percy by the shoulder for one simple reason.

"Stay your fists, Percy Jackson. You risk dislodging him from his position and freeing him once more."

Percy stops. Pauses. Scowls furiously even as he acknowledges her words. But then, just as Artemis intends to guide him away and leave Atlas to his fate… the Son of Poseidon gets contemplative.

"… He was going to kill you to empower me. To make me or one of the others into a god."

Artemis hesitates before slowly nodding.

"Yes. That seems to have been the plan."

Percy suddenly crouches down so that he and Atlas are side to side. Bleeding from the sides of his mouth, the Titan of Endurance nevertheless manages a rictus of a grin.

"You should have taken our offer, Son of Poseidon. Now you will forever be their pet."

Artemis stiffens at that, her jaw clenching. But Percy just shakes his head.

"No, I won't."

Then, he reaches out. For a moment, Artemis assumes the young demigod is going to start torturing Atlas in some way that won't risk his escape. But while Percy does grab the Titan by his face, he doesn't do anything more than that… at least visibly.

Atlas' eyes though… they go wide in shock and horror at whatever is happening beneath the surface.

"You! What do you think you're doing?! How- no! Stop this! Stop this at once!"

Artemis' own eyes widen as she watches a golden glow surround both Percy Jackson and the kneeling Titan of Endurance. It grows so powerful so fast that she's forced back even before she can decide if she should intervene or not. Everyone in the area, including the literal Goddess, is forced to shield their eyes even as Atlas wails and screams, begging for mercy.

"No! NO, you cannot do this! Do not do this! NOOOOOO!"

And then… nothing. His voice cuts off. The Titan of Endurance falls silent. And the glow fades away.

When she can finally see again, Artemis bears witness to the ascension of a new god. Percy was already close to be fair. Days away at most. But he's accelerated things massively just now. And Atlas… Atlas has been turned to stone, his face a rictus of fear and horror as he kneels there in his position, still holding up the sky but very clearly no longer among the living.

Instead, his power now resides in Percy Jackson from the look of things. The young man, who is neither man, nor mortal, nor demigod any longer, stands there with his eyes glowing golden as he looks down at his hands and lets out a contented sigh.

"Thank you, Bruno."

There are a million questions running through Artemis' mind even now. But one rises to the surface above all else at those words.

… Who the fuck was Bruno?

-x-X-x-

The Vote:

[ ] Artemis swears herself to Percy then and there - 43%[X] Artemis takes a 'wait-and-see' approach - 55%[ ] Artemis takes an adversarial stance towards Percy - 3%

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