He stamped his foot again and time slowed. I tried to attack but I was moving at

the speed of a glacier. Kronos backed up leisurely, catching his breath. He

examined the gash in his armor while I struggled forward, silently cursing him.

He could take all the time-outs he wanted. He could freeze me in place at will.

My only hope was that the effort was draining him. If I could wear him down . .

.

 

"It's too late, Percy Jackson," he said. "Behold."

 

He pointed to the hearth, and the coals glowed. A sheet of white smoke poured

from the fire, forming images like an Iris-message. I saw Nico and my parents

down on Fifth Avenue, fighting a hopeless battle, ringed in enemies. In the

background Hades fought from his black chariot, summoning wave after wave of

zombies out of the ground, but the forces of the Titan's army seemed just as

endless. Meanwhile, Manhattan was being destroyed. Mortals, now fully awake,

were running in terror. Cars swerved and crashed.

 

The scene shifted, and I saw something even more terrifying.

 

A column of storm was approaching the Hudson River, moving rapidly over the

Jersey shore.

 

Chariots circled it, locked in combat with the creature in the cloud.