Chapter 22: All Hades Breaks Lose

Nico froze, not sure if it was Kronos's power, or his fear making him sieze up. He hated feeling so scared, so paralyzed, so...weak. It wasn't like him. He wished everything and everyone around him would just disappear and leave him alone for the rest of his life. But he knew that wouldn't be happening anytime soon. Demigods were never left alone. And some didn't even make it to Nico's age. "Didn't you hear me, son of Hades? I know your there, I can see right through your little trick. Surrender yourself now, and cooperate, unless you want to stay down here for eternity." Nico scowled, then smirked as a plan formed in his mind, and he shook his head at Damasen, telling him to wait for now. "You'll have to catch me first, Kronos." He spat the Titans name out as if it left a disgusting taste on his tongue. Then, he drew his sword, and was about to go all out on them, when the ground shook below him. He looked back, only to find every single Titan he knew of, which made him outmatched, even with Damasen. He looked back at Kronos, but something caught his eye, and he looked back, finding silver hair on one of the Titans. Could it be... No, it wasn't really Bob, was it? Nico knew he had escaped with him and Will last time. Why would he come back? Or...maybe he hadn't had a choice. Whatever the reason, that could be Bob, Nico was sure of it. Just like he was sure he wouldn't be getting out of this no matter how hard he fought. But wasn't it worth it to at least try? He searched the ground, spreading his power until he found the same amount, if not more, of skeletons as Titans. He dug his blade into the ground, willing them to rise, and mentioned for Damasen to run towards the Doors. Nico would be there in a minute. The giant nodded, then stood, and ran to the Doors as if his life depended on it. That was kinda true. He ripped his sword from the ground, and ran, only to be tackled by Luke. He had a second before Backbiter came crashing down on his blade, so close to his skin, he could feel it searing. But he simply kicked the guy's groin, and stood, dropping his hilt on Luke's head. He then tossed the boy over his shoulders and ran. He wasn't letting Luke go down that dark path. Not if there was a chance the good part of him was in there somewhere. He managed to catch up to the giant. "Damasen, I need you to guard the door. Don't worry about-" "You aren't going anywhere, Son of Hades!" Kronos roared, and instantly, Nico was frozen in time. He couldn't move. All he did was watch as Damasen went to the door, acting as a guard, and watch while Kronos approached him, Backbiter in his hand. The Titan smirked at him. "You see, Nico, I need a body." But...didn't he have Luke? "I can't use the same one twice. And I knew I needed a strong body, from a person made of trauma and insecurities and regrets, from a broken person. So you were the first to pop into my mind. And I'll have to start the process when I already have so many followers... Oh, well. I'd better get it over with." The last thing Nico remembered was a very sharp pain in his skull before the dark swallowed him up.