BOOM!

Steaming rock smashed into the ground feet away and I was propelled away from the very force. I heard the final howls and screeches of monsters, as they got pummelled by the mass of stone.

I jadedly got up. I covered my face with an arm, trying to block out any dust.

This is what I get for testing my power and practically draining myself, I thought annoyed. Gassy clouds swept through the vicinity and I barely blocked out all of the particles.

BASH!

I heard another ball of magma collide into another set of monsters, the sound of their bodies squelching and being crushed freaking me out slightly.

Ready to pass out, I jogged to the safe haven in this hell. I wasn't in the best shape to really escape. I had lots of bruises and cuts, with blood gushing out but most were now clotted.

I progressed closer to the building. It wasn't too far, less than a kilometre which was short for Tartarus distance.

Around me, dracanae slithered behind me, empousai and hellhounds running for their lives. I guess they don't want to die again, Hades, this place really is terrifying.

Lava was being hurled around me, the screams of many monsters being drowned out by the sound of more fire.

I panted heavily, now charging in a full-on sprint. Golden dust was being blown around me, and if someone saw me, they would think I rolled around in glitter (which I've done).

The hellhound in front of me dropped, rolling without control. Should I save him?

I was about to jump over when I kneeled next to the dog.

It's red eyes were losing life, dimming since shards of glass was what made up the ground here. It looked so much like Mrs O'Leary.

Mrs O'Leary.

I shook my head. Now wasn't the time to reminisce about my loyal hellhound. I didn't know what to do, I couldn't carry it since we would both die and I didn't have the strength. I couldn't heal it since my mortality powers only healed those that held a glimpse of mortal essence.

I glanced at the pleading eyes of the hellhound, wishing me, as its master, would save it. I didn't let him think before I stabbed it the heart, watching it explode into dust.

It flew away, joining the tons of gold floating throughout the air. I may be ruthless and kill, but I murdered an innocent hellhound when it wanted to live.

I didn't dwell on it. Within seconds, I saw I was nearing the base. More than half of the legion of monsters were still here though. Not unscathed.

BUMP!

I flew into the air. I brought my hands up to cushion my fall. Roughly, I crashed into the floor full of sharp stuff.

The sleeves of my clothes were torn, along with my trousers. A huge hole was ripped from my chest while the whole forearm was ripped off, my skin now bare.

Thankfully, it didn't cost me much damage because of my endurance though it still slightly hurt. Why would burning hot shards of glass not hurt? I pushed myself up and looked around.

I was less than a hundred metres or so away. Most of the monsters were either annihilated behind me or now entering the unwelcoming structure.

Craters were all around me, lakes of fire steaming into the air within the centres. Smoke billowed to the ceiling of the cavern, casting a massive shadow over us.

I coughed. I could resist the poisonous gas of Tartarus but I was still mortal and I think this extra sulphur got rid of anything to breathe.

I zoned out the cries around me and stared at my destination. I leapt over a skeleton, ducked under a flying weapon and around a pool of lava.

I was becoming weary. I sprinted faster. Faster than I ever could. But I knew I would collapse of exhaustion soon. My body ached all over, and sweat stuck to my forehead.

Before I knew it, I barged into a door. Mustering my remaining strength, I slammed it open and dropped to the ground. I panted like a dog, with my tongue out and all. I shut my eyes and let myself calm down.

The ground here felt nicer than the glass shards outside, and it felt cooler. That's a plus, something better than the scorching heat trying to burn at my skin outside…

I was about to fall asleep from the drainage of energy until water was splashed onto me.

"What the fuck?!" I yelled, lifting my head up to see who it was. It may have rejuvenated me but it was freezing cold. It didn't help looking either since the 'person' was just a body of black, or well, darkness.

I blinked.

Who in the name of Hades is this dude?

"Get up demigod," a voice came from the black.

I deadpanned at the thing. "If you had an actual body and face, that would be great," I sassed back.

The embodiment of only darkness stomped its foot into the ground, making the place rumble. "You should be grateful I let a mortal into here! Show me some respect while you are here!" It roared. The waves of power it let off was stronger than anything I had ever seen, even Gaea's and she was a Primordial.

I clumsily got up. If this guy owned the safe haven, I had better not piss him off.

Yet.

I finally noticed the surroundings. I was in a pretty large room, with many monsters scuttering around. It seemed as homey as you could get with some chairs, tables and other furniture. I could see Kelli barking commands to some monsters that were wounded.

I took a quick peek behind and the doors were being guarded by two monsters in dark armour like the Titans wore. The door itself had a huge hand imprint on it, the intricate designs slightly tarnished.

In front though was the humanoid body of man consisting of shadows, shadows, and well, shadows.

Behind him was a tall hallway leading into another set of doors with doors lining the corridor. It seemed like a decent place to chill in, for monsters of course; everything here was still dark and red. The bricks and rock lining the world around me were similar to the floor and ores of Tartarus but looked like they were modified.

"Hmm… how about nah? Though I will say this is a damn sweet place," I remarked to the dude. My eyes rested on where his eyes would be.

"You truly are as infuriating as they say," the being irritably said.

Without even commanding it, his body started to transform. He started to become something human. His shadowy form, dissipated and was replaced by flesh. His hands formed first, spreading to his chest and going downwards to his feet. It finally formed formed his head too.

They had finely polished smart black shoes, with a matching black pair of trousers. He had a white shirt under a striped black blazer with white cuffs and a black tie. This guy is so obsessed with the colour black, he is worse than a goth.

His hands were pale, but his face caught my attention; with his short trim on the side but longer pitch black hair combed backwards on top. His irises were a creepy black, like they sucked in the low light around us.

"Am I supposed to know you?" I asked. I had no clue who this immortal was.

The being glared at me like I was a fly annoyingly buzzing around him. "Yes, you should, you stupid demigod," he snarled. The air rippled with his fury. I shouldn't be prodding super-powerful immortals in the side again and again. But it's so much fuuun, my mind shot back.

"Then enlighten me, oh wise one," I sarcastically replied.

The area around me was deathly silent, I guess I was pretty foolish to speak like that to someone who owns the place and is leagues above me in power. That was only because I hadn't trained my abilities to the max.

He put his hands behind his back and stared at me. His dark eyes penetrated my own. Then a smile graced his lips, not a sadistic one nor a happy one - one that just about promised pain.

He then spread his arms wide. "I am EREBUS!" He bellowed, shaking the room with his loud voice. "The embodiment and Primordial god of darkness!"

He pointed at me. "And you, Perseus Jackson, have entered my arena in Tartarus!"

[Linebreak]

I was currently cuffed in a cell. I assumed this place would be at least somewhat hospitable but the minute he introduced himself, he had me locked up in this dull room.

I groaned and dropped on my back onto the wooden bed. Like c'mon… this is almost as bad as my old cell. Except this one has a bed, if you can call it that and no torturing.

My musing was cut short when a thud resonated through the room.

"Lord Erebus demands your presence," a deep voice said.

"Yeah, yeah, give me a second." I hopped off the bed, feeling stronger than ever. Sleep does a number of things to you, one of them giving back all your strength magically. But that was what made sleep great.

The cyclops stared at me with its on eye menacingly. I trotted calmly next to the door. He pushed the butt of his spear into my side and forced me in the direction of the Primordial of darkness.

We finally found a black door. Black again?!

The dracaena guarding opened the door for us. When we got inside, Erebus was in his black chair, facing away from us like any cliché. I huffed.

The room itself was fancy; there were spoils of war, weapons, oak desk, plush chair - basically, a high-end office. Erebus spun around and began to speak.

"Are you a goth?" I questioned, staring at everything that was the colour of a shadow. "No offence either, just wondering because you have so much black…"

The cyclops had long exited the room and shut the door.

Erebus slammed his fist into the desk,"Silence!" He shouted. "You may be insolent but this area is my domain and I can do whatever I wish to you." The evil glint in his eyes confirmed that he wasn't bluffing.

I put my hands up with my cuffs still on. "Okay, Erebus," I began. "Whatever."

The Primordial was still quite calm, though his face was becoming a tomato and it looked cool on a guy that was as white as an albino.

He leaned back in his chair and propped his legs up. "I have decided what to do with you," Erebus mused. "I will send you into the arena."

I rolled my eyes. "Oooh, I'm scared," I mocked. "It's only an arena, not like I have I haven't fought monsters before. What makes this so special?"

His lips curled up darkly. "In my arena, you do not get breaks. Neither do you survive; you fight to the death."

"No way, what's the point then? There's no point if I'll die anyway," I retorted, trying to cross my arms.

"For entertainment. It's been millennia since I have seen a spawn of the gods take part in my battles. It would be great fun to watch them perish, their will and life finishing slowly overtime." He clenched his fist to show his point.

"And what if I-"

"Try and escape the arena? That will never happen, Perseus Jackson. It would be best to remember that. I am a Primordial, and what are you? A descendant way down the family line," he made me feel minuscule. "I am the darkness, and I have a wall of it surrounding this arena while the volcanoes are erupting."

I gulped in nervousness. I guess I'm really lucky this guy hasn't blasted me to pieces, seems better than the gods so far.

"Wait, how do you know my name? I never even introduced myself," I stared at him.

He sighed, "I am everywhere since I am darkness. I may be banished here but that does not mean I cannot leave to the surface" he stood up. "I also have relatives like my wife, Nyx up in the sky or daughter, Hemera to tell me the ongoings if needs be." I recognised the Primordials of day and night's names.

So this guy pretty much knew everything? So why doesn't he know about my powers?

He clasped his hands. "We need to-"

"My Lord, may-" a voice said monotonously before it was cut off.

Erebus had a hand outstretched, a tendril of darkness extended from it. It had pierced the cyclops in the eye and he burst into dust. He turned to me and smirked.

Okay...this guy is definitely dangerous.

"Let's get going, shall we?" His voice broke me out of my thoughts.

We left the room, Erebus leading me. I saw the dracaena quivering in fear from what happened to her ally.

This coliseum wasn't the most beautiful. He hallways were all lined with doors and had a huge set at the end, with the actual corridor made of red rocks.

Finally, I heard cheering. Roaring. Chanting. Praises.

Erebus smiled at me mysteriously and pushed the doors open. When we walked through, I was met with the actual colosseum.

We were high up, situated where the 'Emperors' would be. I walked to the stone banister. All around me were monsters of all kinds: dracaena, the Minotaur, the Sphinx, empousai, cyclops, Kampê and even an immortal that was radiating a lot of power.

In the sky was the gloomy and red haziness with a square of darkness around us. All I could hear were shouts from the monsters and cheers.

I gazed down and saw a fight in the middle of the arena; another immortal was slicing up monsters left, right and centre. He looked like the god of battle. But way more fearsome than the god of war, I snorted.

Another monster burst to dust, an empousa stabbed too early and was decapitated then the cyclops was too slow and sliced to bits. The stuff scattered the arena.

When all of the monsters were gone, the cheers only raised in intensity. I couldn't really see what the immortal looked like other than his black hair. He was definitely panting for air, since he leaned on the wall for support.

Erebus strolled past me and literally walked off the balcony. I was confused on why he just did that when I saw the darkness solidifying under his feet. He casually walked above the arena and level with the highest monsters and coughed. That somehow drew everyone's attention, their eyes staring at him.

The Primordial's eyes were closed as he smiled to himself. He moved around the platform of darkness, an ominous silence taking over the place. Was he going to say something?

Then he opened his eyes; a cruel glint in them. It can't be that bad, going into the arena, right? It was deathly silent, as they waited for their master to do something.

"I…" Erebus began. "...have found a demigod which you all will be happy with." Murmurs spread through the arena.

"Silence!" He bellowed. "Let me continue." He calmly fixed his tie. Were all Primordials bipolar?

I was holding my breath to see what would happen.

Thankfully, no one had noticed me since Erebus's aura overpowered mine by miles so it was distinct.

"As I was saying, the demigod I have found is one who will participate in the battles of the arena, and one who is very special," Erebus said.

Quiet mutters were heard when they promptly died out as he opened his mouth to retort. "This demigod is the one and only, Perseus Jackson!" Roars were let out over my name. "Yes, yes! The most powerful demigod ever, the one who you all despise!" Snarls erupted all over.

I sweatdropped at the reaction. Everywhere I looked, glared were sent my way, looks of hatred and expressions of fury. Was I that hated among monsters?

Erebus grinned at me and started waving his hands wildly, causing the screams to become louder. I am definitely dead, this is just the best welcome I've ever had, I sarcastically thought.

After a moment, he put his palm in the air. Somehow, the sounds died like a wave going further and further, taking the sound with it.

He silently walked even higher, now floating in the centre of the arena. The shadows were still keeping him suspended in the air.

"Would you like to watch the demigod fight to his death?"

A deafening cheer exploded from the crowd and once again, with a hand, the entire arena became silent.

I peeked behind me and saw the snarling guards next to the set of doors. Tartarus formed the very arena, and structures of shadows were all over the place. The colosseum was still filled with the vengeful monsters.

I saw the corner of Erebus's mouth tilt upwards. What's he thinking?

"Then it shall be," he finished.

Oh, I gulped.

This time I was sure I had lost my hearing, because this was louder than when Mt. Saint Helens blew up. All I heard were angry and furious shouts and agreements in the form of shrieks and screams.

Thankfully, I could still keep my eyes open. The Primordial of darkness turned around and smiled evilly.

"Jump in," he ordered me.

I took a step back, and shook my head. "No."

He raised an eyebrow. "No, you say?" He grinned. "Then I will do it myself, demigod."

I sensed something coming towards me but I was too slow to dodge it. A tendril of black wrapped around me and instantly flung me down the balcony.

Laughs erupted around me at my situation. The air whistled past me while I tried to reposition my body before I became Percy pancake on the ground.

The rocky floor of the arena was reaching me, coming closer and closer. I had now fell through a protective barrier in the shape of a dome. Probably to stop the contestants from escaping, I imagined.

Then I panicked. I had no idea what to do and that made my body do everything I needed to do. My body suddenly halted within the middle of the air.

And I couldn't believe what was happening.

I am flying.

Only a few metres above the ground, but I was still hovering and the monsters gazing at me were shocked into silence. Even I didn't know I could fly. It must've been an ability from one of the Titans I had slain.

In the next second bough, I felt myself wavering. It was taking a strain on my energy. I crumpled to the ground, breathing heavily after a moment.

I heard a nearby monster chortle at my weakness. My face was stuck to the cold surface of Tartarus. I heard a voice book out, "Perseus, you do know how the arena works for you?" Was I that special? "There are no rules, there are no limitations—all you must do is fight, fight and fight. Fight to the death."

I sensed him walking back onto the balcony when he piped up again, "I shall allow breaks between days."

I sighed in relief. I had a chance of surviving the monsters and with the timeouts, would give me enough energy and time to escape this hellhole, in a hellhole.

"Bring out the first monster! Make it harder by the day!"

I heard murmurings from the crowd of monsters, probably wondering what monster I would get first.

With a huff, I pushed myself up. I heard a teaching and groaning from the gates I saw when I first got here. The specially ironed doors were opening up for my first monster. My hands brimmed with anticipation.

And when I saw it, I couldn't believe it.

This motherfucking beef-head is fighting me?! I internally shouted. The Minotaur stood there, his axe grasped in his hands. He had both of his horns, and the same underwear from last time. His muscles covered by thick brown hair pulsed with energy because of his home. A puff of air escaped his nose. Then he bellowed.

He bowed his head down, put his legs back and kicked; then he roared monstrously. He started charging towards me. I stood there defiantly.

This only served to make the monster angrier and he huffed loudly. I waited till the last second before making my move. I sailed over him. Somehow, I grabbed his horns in midair and with a jerk, ripped them off cleanly.

I landed on the ground behind the bull when I felt a huge body collapse into the ground behind me. The Minotaur was on his back, body weirdly still and grunting.

I didn't know how I had done it. Isn't he momentum or something supposed to make my arms rip off instead?

I left it to one of the domains I had achieved but didn't know who. Everyone in the arena was silent as the monster exploded into a shower of golden dust. I stood there anxious for what was their reaction.

I heard a hearty laugh from the balcony in the sky.

"He truly is the most powerful demigod of all time! Bring forth the other monsters, more, more," he ordered. "This is very entertaining."

Erebus was still there watching over and I wouldn't have a chance of if escaping if a Primordial was taking guard.

My only option was to train in the arena until I could escape at the right moment. The doors suddenly made another creaking sound. I waited for the next hellish monsters.

I saw a variety of basic monsters from hellhounds to empousai snarling. I guess I'm on everyone's list of people to kill—and probably at the top, I mused.

I grinned for some odd reason, and brought out my trusty pen. I uncapped it and out sprung the bronze blade. The smiling reflection wanting some exhilaration was staring back at me.

I raised my sword up into the air, the audience waiting for something to happen when I said the dumbest thing ever.

"Come and get some, bitches!"

[End of the chapter]

A/N: What's up people? Been awhile huh? I don't have any excuses or reasons except that I've got tests coming up and well, I've been busy with other things but mainly a lazy human being. I'm sorry but not much I can do about my broken update schedule anymore. Sometimes I want to write and sometimes my PS4 looks more enticing so yeah, whatever.

To those who read my PJO/Pokémon crossover, something happened with my document so I haven't got that ready and I really can't be bothered to think of it all again so that'll be a while.

By the way, I have a PJO/Borderlands (TFTBL) crossover which I wrote in some quiet time and I'd appreciate it if any of you could hop over there and drop a review to see if it is worth continuing. The game was amazing on a whole other level and I wanted to create a piece of fanfiction out of it.

I've responded to all reviews and I took in everything you all said, especially SpencerDorman who has had great ideas which I'm placing in the story so thanks a lot man.

Again, review, favourite and follow this story so I can gradually improve it and fix whatever is needed.

Peace out.