Chapter 58 – A Conversation on the Road
The night air outside the building was crisp and quiet after the chaos inside, stars twinkling overhead as if nothing catastrophic had just happened. The distant hum of city traffic and occasional siren reminded them they were still in the mortal world, far from camp's safety.
Outside, Percy, Annabeth, and Grover heard the hydra's terrifying screams echoing from within agonized roars that shook the ground slightly.
Percy said with a tense face, gripping his sword tighter: "Why is that monster screaming like that? It sounds like it's in pain."
Grover, with sweaty hands clutching his reed pipes nervously, said: "Well, it must be because it found a more frightening monster, right? Something worse than itself."
Annabeth looked at them both and said rolling her eyes: "You guys are such cowards. It must just be Dante killing the hydra finishing the job we started."
Grover smiled awkwardly, wiping his brow, and said: "That's my fear exactly Dante in full mode."
Percy then saw a swirling portal opening nearby with dark energy rippling, and Dante stepping out casually, dusting off his clothes as if he'd just taken a stroll.
Dante looked at all of them staring at him wide-eyed and asked nonchalantly: "What is it? Why the looks?"
Percy said still catching his breath: "We heard the hydra's screams from out here. We were wondering what was happening in there sounded brutal."
Dante smiled casually and said: "Well, it was nothing major. I just devoured the hydra problem solved."
Percy said in disbelief: "Wait, you ate that thing? The whole multi-headed fire-spitting monster?"
Grover asked curiously, eyes wide: "What did it taste like? Was it... good?"
Dante put his hand on his chin thinking a bit, recalling the flavor, and said: "Well, it has a taste of chicken mixed with fish kinda gamey but not bad, honestly."
Annabeth looked at Dante and said angrily, hands on hips: "How can you eat anything you see in front of you like that? And how did you manage to eat something that size without exploding?"
Dante said shrugging: "Well, I'm a giant dragon in full form. So you can imagine my appetite bottomless pit when I want."
Annabeth looked at him curiously, crossing her arms, and asked: "Then why don't you get hungry and eat like that all the time? Why bother with normal food?"
Dante said explaining: "Well, that has to do with the type of dragon I am arcane black dragon king. I can eat elements directly. So even the air circulating now around us, I absorb it passively so I don't feel hunger or thirst or anything like that. No need for meals if I don't want."
Percy heard that, looked at Dante in shock and envy: "Wait a minute. So that means you can survive just on air alone? That's total cheating infinite stamina."
Dante said smiling broader: "It's not just air. It's every element out there: earth, fire, water, air, metal, lightning, darkness whatever's around. As long as any of these elements exist in the environment, I won't go hungry or weak. Well, there are several more nuances. If I stay here talking details, we'll be here until early morning it's a long list."
Percy said frustrated: "Cheating power for sure. I can only control water and heal if I'm in it. It's a lot of injustice unfair advantage."
Grover, hearing that complaint, looked at Percy and Dante with mock offense and said: "Can you guys not show off your special powers in front of a humble goat-man like me? It hurts."
Dante scratched his head sheepishly and said: "Well, sorry about that—didn't mean to flex."
He then looked at Percy seriously and said: "Look, Percy, you're complaining with a privileged problems. Look at this poor goat man here. His power is eating cans and helping the environment a bit. You should be grateful for being a fish-boy with real combat potential."
Percy looked at Dante and said half-laughing: "Well, I don't know if I'm grateful, but I know I feel sorry for Grover now."
Grover, hearing that, felt the corners of his mouth twitch in annoyance. He then looked at them and said dramatically: "That's it. Go ahead, mock the poor goat-man kick me while I'm down."
Annabeth, watching that playful banter with a fond eye roll, said: "Well, enough joking around already. Let's get out of here soon before more trouble shows. We still have more pearls to find on this quest."
She then started pulling Dante by the arm toward the car parked nearby.
She then looked back at Grover and Percy, who were standing still catching their breath, and said impatiently: "What is it? We have to find a place to stay soon. I want to sleep a bit before dawn so we can hit the road fresh. So let's go move it."
Grover said quickly: "Alright. I'm coming don't leave me."
She then went toward the car, Dante in tow.
After getting in the car buckling up and settling into seats Grover said as he turned the key: "So what's the plan now? Where is the map pointing next?"
Percy looked at the glowing map carefully and said: "Well, it's saying Las Vegas straight ahead."
Grover shouted excitedly, pumping his fist: "Las Vegas! Baby, here I come shows, food, lights!"
He then started the engine with enthusiasm, pulling out smoothly.
Percy said reminding: "Well, weren't we going to look for a place to sleep first? It's late."
Dante said practically from the back: "We drive as much as we can push it and stop at a hotel on the road when we can't take it anymore no full stop yet. That way we get closer to the destination while looking for a hotel spot. Two things at once efficient."
Percy said nodding: "I get it smart."
Dante said reminiscing with a chuckle: "But I never thought I'd go to Las Vegas this way by car like normals. Always when I tried to open a portal there as a kid for fun, my mom would magically appear out of nowhere to stop me and close it. Interesting pattern. It was only when I opened a portal there she had some kind of alert for Vegas attempts."
Annabeth, hearing that story, smiled amused and said: "Raising a son with the power to go anywhere in the world whenever he wants must have been a lot of work for her constant vigilance."
Dante said smiling proudly: "No, really. I'm an exemplary son overall. There was just one small detail: like when I thought about cleaning out a bank when I was younger big score idea."
Percy asked curiously, turning in his seat: "Did you do it? Actually rob a bank?"
Dante said: "Of course not. My morals and honesty stopped me cold. And of course the fact that it could appear on TV headlines: maximum security bank robbed and no clues discovered, doors intact, vaults empty. Who could this mysterious criminal be? Well, I didn't want to appear as the prime suspect after that report aired on TV too obvious.
Annabeth smiled hearing that mischievous confession and said: "If your mother controlling you so much and you're already like this powerful but mostly good imagine what would have happened if she hadn't controlled you at all."
Dante thought a bit seriously and said: "Well, I think I'd turn into some kind of evil Superman unstoppable villain vibe."
Percy said smiling nervously: "I hope you forget that idea forever. I don't want to be Batman fighting you."
Dante smiled and said teasingly: "With your weak body and little intelligence right now, you'd be lucky to even qualify as Robin sidekick level at best."
Dante looked at Percy and said continuing the analogy: "And a big factor for making Batman one of the big factors that makes their fight work in stories is Superman being a good guy deep down. And in that you can rest easy: I'm not a good guy even now in my current version. Even more in a hypothetical where I'm evil total chaos."
He then looked at Annabeth affectionately: my dear girlfriend here could play Wonder Woman and stop me if needed. I wouldn't mind the challenge."
Annabeth said curiously: "And why not Lois Lane the classic?"
Dante thought and said honestly: "Well, she's not my type of woman at all. You know, clearly weak and fragile, always getting into trouble to complicate Superman's life unnecessarily. Like, there's a version of her who, even pregnant, still did dangerous investigative work and ended up killed by the Joker, leaving Superman broken and evil. So I don't like her personality much too reckless without strength. Plus, as a dragon, I have a big thing for strong women who can hold their own, like Wonder Woman and Supergirl powerful
Percy said shaking his head: "You dragons have some strange quirks and preferences."
Grover said spotting lights ahead: "Everyone, I'm seeing a hotel up ahead. I'm going to stop here. I'm really sleepy eyes burning."
Percy said relieved: "Stop for sure. I don't want to see if the truck can miss us this time third time's not the charm."
Annabeth said agreeing: "Percy is right. It's better to stop and rest a bit properly no risks."
They then drove the car smoothly to the hotel parking lot under the neon sign.
They then entered the lobby, arranged their rooms quickly at the front desk for the night, and split up.
Dante with Annabeth went to their room and Percy and Grover also went to theirs down the hall.
Dante then lay on the bed with a content groan and said: "Finally I can sleep in peace no more chaos for a few hours."
Annabeth lay beside him, snuggling close, and said curiously: "Why did you devour that hydra whole? I know you're not the type of person who does that randomly. She didn't seem very tasty or appealing for such a decision."
Dante said pulling her closer: "Well, I'm an arcane dragon. I tried it to see if, by devouring her completely, I could gain their monstrous regeneration power absorb the ability.
Annabeth asked curiously, tracing his chest: "So did you get it The super healing
Dante pulled her fully into his arms possessively and said with a satisfied grin: "Of course I did tested it already."
He then closed his eyes peacefully and started to sleep, breathing steady.
Annabeth hugged him tightly and thought fondly: What a lazy dragon powerful but so relaxed.
She then kissed him softly on the lips and said: "Good night."
Dante hugged her tightly in response and said sleepily: "Good night.