As planned, we left early the next day with Rachel, as she was clear sighted. Though Nico was confused as to why she was going with us.

"Why are we taking the mortal with us" he asked

"She can see through the mist like the princess Ariadne was able to" I answered

"And"

"I can see a faint glow on the floor leading us to what I hope is the direction of Daedalus's workshop" Rachel said

"Well I don't see a glow" Nico mumbled

"Neither do we" Annabeth said gesturing to me as well as herself

"But it beats random selection" I added

"Yeah I guess" Nico said as we entered a room with three routes

"Let's go left the architect is older" Annabeth stated

"The right path looks like the on Grover and them went down" Nico said

"It straight" Rachel said, the right path has a bunch of moving roots and the left has holes in the wall like it's a trap"

I silently agreed with Rachel as she was the clear sighted one and the labyrinth was made to deceive those of the immortal world.

So we made our way down the straight path but shortly stopped because of a noise, "what was that" Annabeth asked

"Hinges" I said but I know I sounded unsure.

It didn't take long before the sound of heavy feet hitting the ground started.

"Run" Nico asked

"Run" Rachel confirmed and we started running the way we came

Alas it was no use though as we ran into an emposuai and a couple of laistrygonian giants.

"Well well well. If it isn't the mortal who helped the delinquent with more delinquents"

"Hey" I said, " I may agree with you about Peter but that doesn't mean all demigods are delinquent" Annabeth and Nico shrugged.

I was about to pull out my sword, but the emposuai grabbed Rachel by the throat and told us not to unless we want her dead.

By then what ever was coming from the other direction caught up to us and took our weapons, which too me a long while, before making us to move along.

We were forced to enter this completely, ugly, and inhumane arena. It looked to be built with human skulls, and monsters filled the seats...well except one of the seats of honor. That was where Luke was, though you could potentially call him a monster. Though I couldn't identify the other being in the host box.

He looked like an ugly red sumo wrestler, that was easily 3 times as wide as Luke, and he was only wearing a loin cloth for clothing

Down on the arena floor there was another lastrygonian giant fighting a centaur. The centaur looked badly beat up, and was definitely just doing what he could to survive longer.

He was thrown over to us by the lastrygonian. He looked up to us as if begging us to help him but the emposua said we would have to wait our turn.

The lastrygonian took the centaur to the center of the arena where the host then ordered his death. "Who's next" the host asked

"Lord Antaeus" Luke addressed, and oh great just another reason to not like Poseidon. But I guess I should have known Poseidon had something to do with this considering the banners I'm just now noticing. "You said if we provided you entertainment that you would let us pass" finished

"I did. Didn't I" Antaeus said, "but I have yet to be entertained. So who's next"

"We have Nico" luke said

"No. I will go. Nico is just a child, new to all of this. He won't provide any good entertainment"

"You boy. You'll take this Nico's place" Antaeus said, "and what says you will provide better entertainment"

"I've trained since I was four and was raised by the most feared group of maidens to roam our world. Does that satisfy my qualifications" I asked, because I didn't want Nico doing this. He's not trained well enough, and he's too young

"Yes. The volunteer should fight first" Antaeus said, though Luke looked annoyed and scared. I sighed in relief though.

The lastrygonian holding me shoved me into the arena and quickly lady as if he didn't want to be there. I don't blame him. I'm in the same boat of not wanting to be here.

"Weapons" Antaeus asked

I thought about this. "Can I have my entire active personal weapons collection" I said

All of the sudden I had Blackbeard's cutlass, attached at my hip, Anaklusmos in my pocket, my aegis wristwatch on, the bronze baton that was the Minotaur horn spear Zoë and I made, my bow, my hunting knives, and my throwing knives again.

Ahhh everything is back where it should be. "Who's my opponent" I asked

Antaeus made a motion with his hand and the door opened up revealing a Scythian Dracaena slithered out to the arena with a bow

I didn't draw anything yet as I had a plan formulating. "Ready" Antaeus shouted, "FIGHT"

I immediately activated my shield which sprang to life and froze most in fear. Some ran off in fear. But my opponent was frozen in fear. I took that time to pull out my spear and kill the Dracaena in a singular strike through the chest.

That as planned upset Antaeus. "WHAT. NO KILLING YOU HAVE TO WAIT FOR MY OK" He screeched as I stow away my weapons properly.

"Sorry but the Dracaena was just not a challenge" I responded, "how was I supposed to know that she would fall in one singular strike and do nothing to defend herself"

Antaeus grumbled, but Luke sent in another fighter. This time a demigod. And I think I recognized him but it was hard to tell because he was now wearing an eye patch. Though he did look nervous. Despite the heavy armor he was wearing.

"This time no killing until I say so. Got it" Antaeus clarified and I simply nodded my head

This time I figured endurance is my best bet as the heavy armor will work in my advantage. I decided I won't draw unless necessary or it's time to win.

"Ready. FIGHT"

My challenger immediately charged me and I dodged the attack. "Why are you working for them" I asked, "they'll only destroy the world"

"Like the gods aren't doing that already"

"Not all the gods are that way" I stated "most help in the ways they can without breaking the laws"

"Yet the laws they have don't help" he replied bitterly, with more attacks, "they ignore so much that they even ignore their children leaving them to rot and die"

I admit there is some problems with camp but now I have his real motivations. He's displeased with the gods as parents as many other demigods are. Though I knew there was little, to nothing, I could do to convince him otherwise. So I just kept dodging and evading his attacks until he was warn out.

Once he was barely able to keep going I drew Anaklusmos knocked him off his feet and held my sword to his throat.

Antaeus seemed satisfied with the fight, he gave the sign to kill him.

I looked back down to the demigod, knowing he was only being used as a pawn by whoever commanded him. I pulled Anaklusmos away, "No. I won't kill him"