I'd Rather Bring You Down With Me
"So these are the greatest heroes of this age," Atlas said as he looked toward Thalia and Percy. Although he kept his eyes on Percy for a few seconds longer, he eventually showed the same contempt toward both of them. "They don't seem like much of a challenge."
His words were far too similar to what the Hesperides had told Percy not long ago, though in Atlas's voice they carried nothing but absolute contempt for them.
"And what's stopping you from finding out?" Percy asked coldly, a mocking smile appearing on his lips, openly inviting him to attack.
Atlas smirked.
"Do you think I'm stupid, boy? Do you think your childish words could provoke me? I know the rules protecting you right now very well. I was there when they were created," Atlas said. "That's why you think you're invincible and act so arrogantly," he added, casting the same disdainful look toward Luke, who was standing not far from him.
"Or is it that... you just want to hide the fact that you're a coward? Even Ares wasn't afraid to fight a mere mortal. Despicable as he still is, he deserves more respect than you," Percy said again in the same contemptuous tone.
For a brief moment, Atlas stood completely still, and a violent smile twisted across his face, making his anger painfully obvious. But almost immediately he swallowed it down as he looked at Percy before shifting his gaze to Thalia instead, ignoring him.
"So, the daughter of Zeus. It seems Luke was wrong about you. And yet here you are, becoming one of his puppets without even knowing the fate your beloved father has planned for you," the Titan said mockingly.
"I wasn't wrong," Luke cut in immediately, his eyes locking onto Thalia. He still had that worn-down appearance, but at the same time there was something almost pleading in the way he looked at her. "Thalia, you still have time to join us. Me. Do you even know what Zeus has planned by making you Olympus's Champion? He doesn't expect you to win, or anything like that. He's only waiting for you to die..."
Thalia's grip tightened around her spear, but her expression didn't change.
"...and once that happens, he'll have an excuse to claim Percy's soul. He's only using you so he can drive Percy's master out of this world while getting rid of the heroes of the prophecy at the same time. That same arrogance may be what buries Olympus. With the two of us untouchable by any other divine being, we'll become the spearhead that brings them down. We don't even need to finish this competition. We'll stand at the top in the new world," Luke said, convinced Thalia would join him.
Meanwhile, Atlas gave Luke a contemptuous glance after hearing those words, but said nothing else. It seemed the Great General didn't like the part where not even he could touch them because of the ongoing Trial.
But as long as it was useful, he seemed forced to accept it, however reluctantly.
"The first Trial is to deliver the Ophiotaurus. But if we kill it, if we use its entrails to bring down Olympus, then the first Trial will become impossible to complete until the Ophiotaurus is reborn... who knows how many thousands of years from now," Luke continued with a hopeful smile as he loosened his grip around Annabeth, though he never moved the sword away from her neck. Then he raised a hand toward Thalia as though waiting for her to take it.
"Come with me, Thalia. Just like the old days. Fighting together and watching each other's backs."
Thalia looked at him with an unreadable expression, without saying a single word.
Instead, Percy couldn't help letting out a faint smile, both amused and mocking.
"I finally get it," Percy said with a look of realization.
"Get what?" Luke asked, turning toward him with an annoyed frown after being interrupted before he could hear Thalia's answer.
"That you've been an idiot this whole time. It's true that divine beings can't attack us, but... did you ever stop to think about what happens if Olympus falls and my master is driven out? Do you really think the Trial would still remain in effect and you'd keep being untouchable? Is that what Kronos told you? Or have you never heard that there are no draws for the champions of this Trial?" Percy said.
"Besides..." Thalia finally cut in. "Who said I don't know what Zeus is planning? Do you think I don't know he wants either you or Percy to kill me, or for me to be the reason the two of you end up killing each other? You really don't think very highly of me, Luke," Thalia said in her usual neutral tone.
Luke frowned as he heard Thalia's words.
"Then why are you still following his plan?" he couldn't help asking.
"Because I decide my own fate however I please. And because I want to prove to Zeus that choosing me and trying to use me was the worst mistake he could have made," Thalia said, staring directly at Luke before raising her spear into a fighting stance. The pain in her eyes gradually gave way to something much more resolute. "I have to stop you, Luke. Only I can do it, even if..."
She didn't finish the sentence, but she didn't have to.
Luke looked into Thalia's eyes, and his face tightened, knowing exactly what those words meant.
There was one possibility no one had accounted for—not even Zeus, despite knowing the bond between Luke and Thalia. Maybe his entire plan had been built around that single connection.
But it seemed that connection was no longer enough to stop her.
Not after Luke had dared to press his sword against Annabeth's neck and planned the slaughter of countless innocent people.
"Thalia, this is the last time I'll ask you. Just take my hand," Luke said, almost pleading. There was even a trace of outright panic in his eyes. "If you don't... he'll take it. Nothing will be able to stop him," Luke said. "If you do, he'll claim your soul. He'll torment you for all eternity. He'll destroy you to the point where you'll never be yourself again. So... just come with me. Please, Thalia."
For a moment, Thalia seemed to hesitate, but she forced her expression to remain firm.
"Even if I don't stop you and you somehow complete the Champions' Trial, he'll do the exact same thing. I'd rather drag you down with me and let Percy be the winner," Thalia said with absolute conviction, as though she'd spent her entire life preparing herself to make that choice, even if she would have to pay for it for all eternity.