Fourth Arc: Path to Salvation

Meeting of the Minds

-Unknown Territory, Beast Realm-

"Show me a sword that can kill me?" Chrysaor laughed. Then his eyes narrowed as he stared at Percy with a smirk. "I'm afraid that was something even your master wasn't able to do after training for so many years just for the sake of killing me. What qualifications do you think a child like you has to be able to do this? Speak so arrogantly? You're not qualified!"

Percy slowly tilted his head and a smirk crossed his own face, mirroring Chrysaor as his eyes narrowed. "What qualifications do you have?"

"Are you mocking me?" Chrysaor growled.

"Are you mocking me?" Percy growled.

"Just shut up and die!" Chrysaor roared and swung his sword, giving birth to a wave of power as he struck out at Percy.

"Just shut up and die!" Percy roared and swung his sword, giving birth to a wave of power as he struck out at Chrysaor.

The two attacks intersected and exploded with a muffled boom, giving rise to ripples of chaotic energy and debris. Chrysaor moved within the cover of the Debris, darting towards the right as he rushed to get to Percy's right.

The dust suddenly cleared and chrysaor's eyes widened as Percy suddenly appeared before him, smirking confidently as his sword swung forth, striking at Chrysaor's face.

Chrysaor cursed and raised is sword hurriedly, trying to block the attack, but it was a futile attempt as time seemed to slow down around him, and the air around Chrysaor turned into a sticky fluid, grasping and slowing down the master swordsman.

"Awaken, Endless cycle of Resurrection, Riptide!"

The aura around Percy erupted. The effect of time spread like a ripple, spreading from Chrysaor to hundred thousand of miles away. Even the Monk Smelly Gabe was not spared, being engulfed in it.

The bone cold killing intent from Percy tore through the two of them, and the presence of Riptide was unleashed at the same time. Like a gigantic eye opening in the nine heavens above, staring down at them like they were insignificant ants.

Chrysaor was frozen, helpless to resist, watching as the slash that would end his life arrived.

Thunk.

Percy slowed his steps and turned around. Chrysaor's body had been decapitated, blood spewing from the stump of his neck as his headless body stumbled around before collapsing weakly to the ground.

Percy turned and his sword stabbed out, and a ray of black energy thrust out of his sword, striking through a spot in the sky.

"EAAAAHHHHHH!"

A scream rang out and chrysaor's soul reappeared in the sky.

It appeared just like Chrysaor had, but its figure was translucent, with an illusory aura glowing around it. Originally, it had been secretly escaping after it's body's death, but how could the current Percy not notice it? The energy he had thrust forth had pierced through the chest of the soul, in the form of a glowing black sword made of pure energy.

"H-how? This is impossible? How could you discover me?" Chrysaor mumbled with confusion and fear.

Percy's eyes were cold and filled with ridicule as he surveyed the shocked spirit. "Nothing can hide from the eye from riptide. And now, like I promised, I will end this foolish immortality of yours!"

"Wait! Percy…. NOOOOOO!" Chrysaor let out an unwilling scream as Percy twisted the sword he held, and the sword buried in chrysaor's chest ripped him apart like tissue paper. "Master! Save MEEEE!"

Smelly Gabe narrowed his eyes and raised his hand and his power surged forth to eradicate the sword and preserve Chrysaor's soul.

BOOM!

A sudden explosion interrupted his power and ripples of energy filed the sky as the two powerful energies filled the sky. When they cleared, Percy had reappeared in the sky between Gabe and Chrysaor.

"Gabe oh Gabe…. Never had I expected that after my mother had ended your pathetic life, you also ended up in Tartarus to suffer like the scum you are." Percy mocked before raising riptide to his shoulder. "But something like you doesn't even deserve a life in hell. So, on behalf of my Father, and my previous mother, I will end your life again!"

"Impudent! Don't get arrogant just because you gained some control over a puny sword!" Gabe growled. He thrust his palm forward and immediately, the air around Percy froze and the gigantic palm hurtled down, like a mountain descending to smash an ant.

Bang!

When Gabe's palm landed, the shock in his eyes instead increased and surged as he stared at his palm. It was trembling, trying to move forward. However, Percy had raised riptide and pointed it at his palm, the tip of the sword meeting the palm. Originally, Percy should have been smashed flat. However, he was like an unshakeable mountain, his sword meeting his palm and stopping it!

"oh, you poor fool. It looks like you still haven't understood. So, let me explain it to you in simpler terms. You…. Are already dead."

"What?!"

ROAAAAARRRR!

The power of riptide erupted like an awakened volcano, surging the heavens.

RRRRUUUUUMMMBBBBLLLEEEE!

Space shattered and tore open, and a gigantic palm met Gabe's palm, sending him stumbling and flying backwards. And a gigantic devil slowly arose from a crack in space, a palm that made even the Thousand-meter-tall Gabe appear puny pushing out from within. Following the palm, another hand appeared, both hands grabbing the crack and tearing it open as they slowly stretched it wide. The two hands were skeletal, covered in black scales, and tipped with barbed claws.

And following them, a gigantic head was suddenly thrust out of the crack.

Gabe froze. Fear.

Fear

FEAR

That was all that remained in that instant. The gigantic face of the devil was simply something that didn't belong to this universe. A gigantic skull, with two twisted and misshapen horn tearing through the top. Its eyes were two endless voids of chaos and as it opened its mouth, Gabe saw a portal of destruction and death within. Eyes that foresaw the rebirth of life. And an endlessly devouring mouth that would destroy even the universe!

Riptide, fourth seal, Unsealed!

It was a power that exceeded the limits of the current chaos heavens, a power that belonged to the Devil God's who resided in the actual Hell outside of the Chaos Heavens. If Percy had the true strength to unleash this attack, it would be on the level of a universal catastrophe. Just this single attack was capable of devouring the entire universe. But right now, with Percy's limited power, all he could do was summon a single moment, a single moment where he became the true master of life and death within the Chaos Heavens. With Riptide lending Percy it's power, for this one moment, Percy had the power to extinguish even god's and titans with a single thought.

Gabe didn't even know what hit him.

He disintegrated like dust, his very soul and essence being extinguished and erased by the Devouring Power of riptide. With that one moment, Gabe ceased to exist, never to ever to be reborn.

And then Percy descended to the ground, the devil behind him retreating into the crack in reality, returning to Hell.

In that moment, Percy smiled, his entire body relaxing. In his mind, he saw a blank whiteness. And within there stood two more people. Two incomparably familiar people.

Two more Percy's.

-Destruction Realm, Destruction Territory-

Destruction was seated in front of Percy, looking like a small kid as he smiled at Percy.

"Seeing as you have mastered the power of destruction, I can now let you return to Chaos as my successor, The Son of Destruction."

Percy smiled back." Return? And how exactly am I supposed to do that?"

Destruction and a light shot from his palm into Percy's head, entering his mind. Inside it was information about everything destruction wanted to say.

Percy closed his eyes, then stood up, then knelt before the small kid. "Master. This kid will take your leave then."

Destruction laughed and waved his hand and a gentle energy wrapped around Percy, slowly bringing him to his feet." This Old man has rarely interacted with the existence of other beings, and I've never bothered myself with any other being other than my sister Chaos. However, you boy, you are truly worthy of my attention. Do not disappoint me."

-Unknown Territory, Spiritas Realm-

As Percy refined the DarkFlame phoenix, he closed his eyes, and his mind opened, and suddenly he was sucked away, drawn into an endless white expanse.

-Meeting Place of the Minds-

Essence Percy: "So it looks like all of us are here."

Body Percy: "Excuse me, but what the fuck?"

Soul Percy: "Language! But I agree. What the fuck?"

Essence Percy: "What's wrong with you two?"

Body Percy: "Is this an illusion in my mind? No, it's connected to my soul."

Soul Percy: "What are you even talking about? You two are probably phantoms in my ind. I don't know how I fell into this illusion, but you guys must be a trick of the DarkFlame Phoenix."

Essence Percy: "Wait what? No! We're not illusions. Both of you, stop being stupid for two seconds and let me explain to you."

Soul Percy: "Go Ahead. I'm listening."

Essence Percy: I sighed, then raised a hand. My aura exploded and fused with the other two. I could see their eyes widen as our souls all interconnected, the three fragments finally meeting after so many years. "I am you. And all of you are me. We three are the three fragments of Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon, and inheritor of the will of Chaos."

I pointed at myself." I am the Essence, the Energy and the True Soul of Percy. After Our death, I was exiled from the Universe of Chaos, and sent into the Universe of Destruction, where everything ends up after death. But the power with which Chaos had returned me to life, I resisted the effects of that world, and I have grasped the power of reincarnation as well."

Then I pointed at the Body Percy." You are the Body, The Firmament and the Structure of Percy. After our Death, you were combined with the Devil and Demon Powers within Percy and sent to Tartarus, like every monster must be sent after it's death. Riptide has drawn you into a separate Dimension of Tartarus, where its pieces were sealed away. As you are a Monster, a Demon, you also reincarnated like them."

Then I finally pointed at the Soul Percy." You are the Soul, the Foundation, the Heart of Percy. After our death, you were sent to the Underworld like every Ordinary Human must go. However, unlike an ordinary human, you had the power of the River Styx. Thus, you also grasped the powers of reincarnation and have resisted losing your identity even after death. And like any soul, you also have a chance to be resurrected."

The Soul frowned." If what you say is true…"

Body: "then everything we remember now and everything we know would match it…"

Soul: "And it makes perfect sense in that way."

Essence: "Of course, true reincarnation will happen only when we three reunite and combine, uniting the Essence, Body and Soul of Perseus Jackson once again."

Body: "and how are we supposed to do that?"

Essence: "That's quite simple. Each of us has a method to leave the world we are trapped in and return back to the Chaos Dimensions, Earthen Realm."

I pointed at the Body." The place you are trapped in right in is a fragment of Tartarus. And as you should know, it's usually not easy to leave Tartarus, at least not intentionally. But thankfully for you, you are no longer trapped in the real Tartarus. Ever since the War between Gaia and Tartarus, the universes have become separated, and there's no way for your soul to truly enter it. This fragment that you are trapped in is actually a part of Tartarus that someone on earth used to seal away a powerful and terrifying artifact. If you want to leave this seal, the simplest would be to unseal that artifact and undo the deal itself."

Body Percy: "Basically, you mean I need to collect the pieces of riptide?"

Essence Percy." Exactly. Once you finish collecting all the fragments of the sword, the seal will be undone and you can leave the realm with the power of riptide."

"And as for you…" Essence Percy glanced Soul Percy. "You've entered Erebus, the true form of the Underworld. After the disappearance of the Olympians, the natural order of the world was destroyed. The rules that previously governed life and death were overturned, leaving only these new rules instead. As such, even Erebus, which was previously considered to where souls would go after they had died has changed. It is now governed by new laws, laws that allow it to enter a new cycle of life and death. However, people from erebus cannot leave and enter the Earthen realm so easily. The only way to do so would be by accessing the Five Rivers of the Underworld that connect Erebus to Earth. You will have to connect to and use their power in order to travel through the dimensional barrier and reach earth again."

Body Percy: I nodded with understanding and looked down at my hand. "So that's the case eh? Riptide has always been the key to everything. And its looks like I'm already on the right path."

Soul Percy: "In that case, I also know what I must do now. Since I already have accessed the power of two rivers, this should be easy enough."

The three Percy's exchanged smiles. Then they each stepped back as their consciousness dispersed, returning to their bodies.

-Beast Realm, Unknown Territory-

-Five Months after the death of Chrysaor-

The battle had devastated the City, and the damages caused by it would probably take many years to be recovered. However, the people had survived and as such, the city would continue. As long as the foundations and the people were alive, the city would never truly be killed.

Hundreds of thousands of people were at work, clearing out the rubble from the city as the foundations of many of the city's buildings and infrastructure was repaired. And overseeing all of this, was Michelle.

Percy on the other hand was back at the Training Grounds he used to work at with Mike. He was all alone here, immersing himself in the memories of the past. With the help of Michelle, he had gained a rough understanding of Mike's Teacher and his origin. If he needed to leave the Sealed world of Tartarus, he would have to collect the fragments of Riptide. He had already gathered two fragments. One was with him since birth, the other had been bestowed upon him by mike. And now, according to his knowledge, there was just another one fragment remaining to be found. He planned to go to where Mike's Teacher had come from and continue his search from there. Apparently, it was called the Eternal Sword Dao Temple. It was possibly the best place for Percy to go and test his luck.

As Percy finished up his reminiscence, his brows twitched and he looked up, suddenly sensing a foreign aura.

"crunch… crrrrk"

Footsteps were heard and a figure emerged from the forest opposite to Percy.

She had an especially slender build and a head full of luminous long, gold-coloured hair. Half of it spilled over her shoulders and the rest hung all the way down to her buttocks. She seemed to be dressed in a special layer of soft, golden leather that tightly clung to her body. Every outline her clothes drew on her body was perfect to the point of being stifling. Her bottom and bosom were tall and swelled, her waist as delicate as a willow.

Her face was half covered by a golden mask that matched her hair. It was covered by intricate designs that seemed to capture the eyes and draw all gazes. Behind the mask, a pair of deadly and intelligent eyes lurked. Her lips were tender, like flower petals as they curved into a mocking smile.

Percy's instinct's all screamed at him and he leapt backwards right as she leapt forward.

Riiiiiip~

A golden flash ripped across the air and a soft sword suddenly weaved through the air as it darted at Percy.

Percy raised his hand and his palm flashed as a black light exploded forth. Riptide's dreadful aura seeped forth and the world around him trembled! he infused his power into the Devil God Sword Riptide.

The next moment, layer upon layer of crimson gaseous flames began to emit from the Devil God Sword Riptide nonstop. Then, they completely enveloped Percy.

"Rumble~~~"

Right at that moment, rumbles began to sound from the sky.

Looking upward, crimson clouds were appearing above Percy. Furthermore, they were rapidly spreading. In an instant, the clouds covered the entire Kong Heavenly Clan.

As the crimson clouds surged about, they only emitted a single sort of aura, a demonic aura.

"Percy, don't you act arrogant. This Demon Suppression Sword specializes in subduing Demon Armaments."

"Even if your Devil Sword possesses overwhelming power, you will still not be able to unleash it today. The power of your Devil Sword will be purified by this. You will become completely powerless."

After the girl in golden said those words, she instilled her martial power into the Golden sword she held in her hand. Then, the Soft sword started to glow with golden light, the girl in golden also started to glow dazzling gold.

It was as if the Girl in Golden had fused with the Golden Soft sword.

Once that golden radiance appeared, the crimson gaseous flames emitted by Percy were immediately suppressed.

At that moment, the crimson gaseous flames that covered the sky earlier had completely disappeared. Only the Devil God Sword Riptide in Percy's hand was still emitting crimson gaseous flames.

Percy shouted "Oh no!" in his heart. Holding the Devil God Sword Riptide, he was able to sense that the power of the Devil God Sword Riptide was being suppressed. He was simply unable to unleash the power of the Devil God Sword Riptide.

That so-called Demon Armament Suppression Talisman was actually really capable of suppressing the power of the Devil God Sword Riptide.

"Trash, hand your body over to this god, this god will extinguish them for you."

Right at that moment, Percy suddenly heard a voice. It was the Devil God Sword Riptide's voice.

"You want me to hand my body to you? Never!" Percy refused.

He understood what the Devil God Sword Riptide meant. Right now, Percy was only using the Devil God Sword Riptide. Thus, he was still in control.

As for the Devil God Sword Riptide, what it proposed was for it to gain control.

Percy knew very well how frightening the killing intent the Devil God Sword Riptide possessed was. It was an existence filled with murderous desire. It was a true demon.

The girl smiled complacently. "This sword of mine is the bane of all Demonic swords, even your Devil God Sword Riptide Riptide is nothing before it's might!"

The golden glow brightened and swarmed towards Percy like an all-encompassing river. And Percy was unable to resist as he was swallowed.

A.N: just an update. Currently working on Sleepover with forbidden Sins, though it's not my story.