Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-3542839-20140227002012/@comment-5471249-20140712173751

Kralos wrote: Annabeth single-handedly got the Athena Parthenos, a feat which nobody has ever achieved before. Because of this, thousands of years of rivalry would end. She also survived the Sea of Monsters, held the sky up, navigated the Labyrinth by herself with no help (after Mt St Helens erupted), and withstood the might of Kronos with a dagger (when she caught Kronos's blade on her hilt). That is a great feat. Kralos, let´s look at these points of yours with some more objective analysis, in order to determine their accuracy (first at Annnabeth´s feats, and then at Nico´s).

'''About Annabeth... She indeed an intelligent, powerful, and resourceful demigoddess, I do not deny that. HOWEVER, just how great is she, objectivelly speaking? Let´s take a good look:'''

1) Surviving the Sea of Monsters... Well, yes, Annabeth did indeed survive the notorious and infamous Sea of Monsters, BUT that is hardly a personal feat of Annabeth´s! Think about it: in every difficult situation, Annabeth always had the aid of Percy, Tyson, and later, Clarisse and Grover, to back her up, as well as some of the useful equipment that they all just so happened to have at the time. Here are some specific examples: Hydra-Annabeth, Percy and Tyson only survived their encounter with the Hydra due to the help of Clarisse, who arrived just in time with useful Celestial Bronze cannons. Scylla and Charybdis-Annabeth only survived Scylla and Charybdis due to the efforts of Tyson (who managed to keep the CSS Birmingham from sinking into Charybdis´s whirlpool), and her timely application of Hermes´ Thermos (which blasted her far enough away from Scylla´s heads to be snatched up by the ferocious monster). Sirens-Annabeth only survived the Sirens with Percy´s help, since without him pulling her underwater and back to the lifeboat, Annabeth would have surely been torn to pieces by the Sirens´vulture claws. Circe-Annabeth only survived her encounter with Circe through her timely usage of Hermes´Multivitamins (which made her temporarily immune to the goddesses magic). Had she not eaten one just in time, Annabeth would have surely been turned into a shrew by Circe´s magic. Polyphemus-Lastly, you do recall how greatly injured Annabeth was after her encounter     with the Cyclops Polyphemus? Well, as you know, she only survived that ordel because of Percy, who spread the Golden Fleece over her just in time. Overall, Annabeth´s so- called "feat" of surviving the Sea of Monsters cannot be considered a personal feat by any rationally thinking person, considering all of the help that she constantly had. And you accuse Nico of needing help in his feats? You contradict yourself there, Kralos! Please, be fair and just. '''Case made. '''

2) Holding up the Sky (Atlas´ Curse)... Well, Poseidon later tells Percy that having the ability to take up Atlas´ burden is not a matter of physical strength. More precisely, that burden can only be forced on a Titan (one of the children of Gaia and Ouranous), and it can only be taken by another who has strength of will, a true heart, and great courage. While this still is a good example that deliniates Annabeth as having "strength of will, a true heart, and great courage", this is not really a feat of any supernatural strength and/or abilities that Annabeth may have. As a result, this feat is something that any good hero (including Nico) would be able to do, no matter how physically weak, he/she may be. Case made.

3) Navigating in the Labyrinth... well, do you recall how Annabeth and Percy found their way INTO Hephaestus´forge in Mount St Helens in the first place? Well, allow me to enlighten you--they followed an automaton spider (which had previously lead them to Hephaestus himself). Right before Annabeth kisses Percy and leaves, he advises her to travel back to Hephaestus the same way--by following the spider! Furthermore, if Annabeth was really capable of "navigating the Labyrinth by herself with no help", she never would have needed to take Rachel Elizabeth Dare with her! Considering that at the time Annabeth did not like Rachel at all, she NEVER would have taken her with herself and Percy unless it were ABSOLUTELLY nessesary!!! Oh, and also... right after Nico di Angelo ran away from Camp Half-Blood, he escaped throught the Labyrinth. While Minos did mention that he lead Nico throught the Labyrinth, it is very unlikelly that Nico meet him right away (considering how dirty and battered his clothes looked). So, for some time, Nico did manage to survive in the Labyrinth on the his own (for a couple of weeks, perhaps), which is something that Annabeth has been shown to be able to do (considering that she had Percy backing her up for nearly the whole time)!! '''Case made. '''

4) Fighting Titan King Kronos... All right, your argument here is flawed as well. But, in a way, I agree with you--Annabeth´s ability to temporarily cross blades with Kronos himself is indeed a great feat. HOWEVER, you forget that Annabeth was only able to cross blades with him for a couple of seconds, after which she was easily defeated and smacked across the face by the Titan King. That isn´t what I would call "withstanding" his might! Furthermore, it wasn´t even the "might of Kronos" that Annabeth failed to withstand, but, rather, a small fraction of it, since the mighty Titan was greatly limited by pocessing a demigod. Even though Nico didn´t have the Curse of Achilles, considering how good of a swordsman he was (and almost entirely self-trained!), I´m sure that he would have lasted longer against Kronos in this situation. Case made. 

5) Attaining the Athena Parthenos... Well, yes, Annabeth did indeed achieve a great feat by "single-handedly get the Athena Parthenos", a feat that no demigod child of Athena was ever able to achieve before. BUT that is exactly where your argument is flawed! You forget that demigod children of Athena were the ONLY ONES who were ever tasked with this mission! As a result, at one point during her quest in Rome, Annabeth herself admits that the other members of the Seven would have done better in this quest than her. And I am absolutelly certain that Nico di Angelo would have completed this quest much quicker, considering that he would have to travel under the ground exclusively, where he could fully apply his geokinetic skills. Case made. 

And now, we shall look at Nico di Angelo (check the post below please).