Until I Bleed Out

"We head for Mount Vesuvius." Percy announced to his army, and they all gasped.

"Why there?" Aydn asked.

"It is where I believe the final armies of Erebus to be stationed, so we can finally end this war once and for all. I have already contacted Aether, and the demigod armies are on their way, so we can have support." Percy said. There were still complaints.

"If you wish to not fight alongside your brothers, do what you have been training years for, I'll kill you, and we'll leave your corpse here. Do not test me. This is their day of reckoning." Percy growled, and everyone shut up.

"Good. Pack your things. We leave at dawn."

X

Percy was on a date night with Annabeth, and he wanted to make it special. It was their anniversary. He ordered a small lava cake, Annabeth's favorite.

"I love you more than anything in the world, Annabeth." He said. She smiled at him.

"I know that." She whispered.

"Do you not like hearing it?"

"I can tolerate it."

Percy smirked, chuckling.

"Annabeth… I believe the war ends in the next few weeks… I've tracked Erebus down, and I think that I know where he is." Percy said, Annabeth's eyes flashing slight anger. He was treading dangerous territory.
"Tomorrow, me and the three hundred will be in Italy, Mount Vesuvius, where I believe Erebus's armies reside. It'll be the day of reckoning." Percy sighed. "I'll come back to you. Every night. I promise." He said, taking her hand in his. She looked up into his eyes, and there was nothing but solemn promise in them. She smiled at him.

"I love you, Perseus." She whispered.

X

The three hundred were ready at dawn, and Perseus flashed them to a valley next to Mount Vesuvius, where there was a wide open field next to the volcano, perfect for war. Percy noticed some of the shocked looks on his soldier's faces, and turned, to be met with one of the largest armies he'd ever seen. Erebus's army consisted of hundreds of thousands varying monsters, and demigods, all spread out, working in cohorts, side by side. Percy's men were armored, swords drawn, as Erebus and Perseus walked forward to meet one another.

"Perseus." Erebus spoke first.

"Do you know where we are, Erebus?" Percy smirked.

"Mount Vesuvius, in Italy. Why?" Percy chuckled, and tapped his foot on the ground.

"Are you sure you want this war, Erebus?" Percy asked, and the god rolled his eyes.

"I've never been so sure of something in my life, Perseus." Erebus said, drawing his sword. Percy summoned his axe from the pits of hell.

"I've heard rumors of your axe, but my oh my is it beautiful… I'll have to take it as a war prize after I've killed you." Erebus said, pointing his sword at Percy, who scowled.

"You'd be lucky if you got the chance." And Percy swung his axe, and was met with the blade of Erebus.

"Unlike you to attack first, Perseus." They danced along the edge, as the cliff overlooked a pit of magma.

"I have my ways." Percy said, and Erebus jabbed at Percy, who dodged, and kicked Erebus's leg out, attempting to cut him, but Erebus dodged gracefully. They'd switched sides – Erebus's back to Percy's army, vice versa.

"You're not a horrible swordsman, Erebus. Maybe in another life, we'd be friends." Percy said. Erebus scowled.

"We were friends… you have just been corrupted by power." Erebus said, swinging wide at Percy, who caught the sword strike with the blade of his axe, kicking at Erebus, who bounced back.

"I've been corrupted by nothing. Your vision is just blinded by greed." Percy seethed. Erebus snarled, and brought his sword down in an arc, and was met with the unbreakable shaft of Percy's axe, who twirled it, and sliced at Erebus's legs.

"You were supposed to bring balance to the universe!" Erebus growled. Percy's jaw clenched. "You're a failure to us all! Your father, My mother!" Erebus spat.

Percy took two steps towards the magma pit, trying to draw Erebus in, who followed. Percy swung at Erebus's side, and Erebus dodged, throwing the butt of his sword into Percy's jaw, before flipping it, and stabbing Percy in the heart. Percy dropped his axe, eyes wide, jaw clenched.

"I rise, you fall." Erebus spat into Percy's face, who fell backwards into the volcano.

X

Are we really doing this again? I told them I didn't want to do it again.

Percy's mind sighed. The pain was back, the burning. This time, his muscle tissue didn't fade, only his skin.

The pain subsided. This shocked Percy, who opened his eyes, to a black room, similar to the one he met his father in.

"This is not your father's room, Perseus." A voice said.

"Then who's room is it?"

"Ours."

"Whose ours?"

"Us. Me and You, one and one." The voice said. Percy frowned.

"I've never met you before, how can you be me?" Percy asked.

"I'm your power, your consciousness. I've been asleep for millions of years, but now I believe it is my time to be awoken."

"Have we met before though, seriously?"

"Oh a many times, Perseus." the voice said. "The tattoo, the one that circles your eye, that's me. Always here when you need me most."

"If you were here when I needed you most, I wouldn't be in the middle of a magma pit right now." Percy growled. The voice audibly sighed.

"You're in the void, slow one. No wonder we rejected you before. You're so dull." The voice said, disgusted. Percy rolled his eyes.

"How do we do this?" Percy asked, and the voice formed into a physical body of a woman.

"Nothing major. Just this-" The voice stopped, punching Percy in the jaw, and when he recovered, she put her hands on his chest, one on each pectoral muscle, and the darkness in the room flowed through her, into him. He gasped, it was like new air filling his lungs.

If he thought the power he got from combining with his father was amazing… this was on another planet.

He'd never felt so rejuvenated in his life, so strong.

"Wake." The voice said.

He returned to consciousness, and the power stayed with him. He was slowly floating through the magma, until he reached something at the bottom. He turned, only to be met with a black flooring, like bedrock at the bottom of the volcano, but it was different… this felt… familiar. Percy punched the glass in between him and the substance, and it cracked. He did it again, and again, and again, until the glass broke, and the power started to flow through the hole and into Percy's chest. He smiled, an evil smile, one of greed, one of power. The magma didn't hurt him anymore. Nothing hurt him. This was it. He was at 100. He was there. He felt his clothes shredded from his body, as the black covered his lower torso, and he felt the wings forming on his back. He looked down, and the black tattoo was there, looking into his soul. Circles forming on both palms, spiraling around his arms, meeting in his chest, spreading through his back, and circling up to around his right eye.

God it felt good to be who he was meant to be.

X

All around Alex, the three hundred fought against the millions that pushed them. Monsters, Demigods, gods, anything that wanted to take a crack at the warriors took it. They fought off, but it felt as if help was not coming, never soon. Alex cut down another demigod, and looked around. There was dead humans all around him, dead friends, dead enemies. He started to cry, to sob, in the middle of the battle field. This is not where he wanted to be. He wiped his eyes, as a hellhound charged him. He flipped the dog over his shield, and cut its head off. Then a demigod slashed at his right, but Alex deflected it, stabbing the demigod in the heart.

I'm so sorry.

Then the earthquake started, and everyone lost their balance. Alex was pretty sure he even saw Erebus shaking too.

Then the black beam appeared, coming down from the heavens onto the floor right in front of Alex, it was all power. The beam hit the earth like the Death Star beam, as if it meant to destroy the planet.

From the black pillar of power came an axe flying out, at an incredible speed, landing right into the skull of Nyx, whom stood next to Erebus. She was dead on impact. The axe flew back to the beam, before it disappeared.

Where the beam once was, stood Perseus, axe in hand, black wings on his back, and black covering his lower body, and a tattoo protruding all round his body. Everyone stopped and stared at him.

Was this Perseus in his final form?

Alex's question was answered immediately as Percy grew to fifteen meters tall, and his axe did as well. He snapped his fingers, and from behind the army of order, the ground started to shake.

Emerging behind them, was units upon units of soldiers, all in black armor, the original armor signifying the Armies of Order. It looked amazing next to the white armor of Aether, and the armor of the demigods from Olympus. Alex didn't count, but there was easily three thousand more soldiers.

Then Percy disappeared, along with Erebus, and Aether.

X

Aether told Percy of the field where Erebus and him agreed upon. It was in the mountains of Sweden, a remote location. Percy appeared there, along with Erebus, Aether, Tartarus, Hemera, and Pontus. Aether and Pontus immediately took Percy's side, as Erebus, Tartarus, and Hemera opposed them.

"Have you done it, Perseus?" Aether asked the greater, and Percy nodded down.

"Erebus, for your crimes against the names of Order and Chaos, you're to be killed by my blade." Percy announced. Erebus growled.

"You're a weakling, Perseus. No stronger than your mother was." Percy snarled, charging Erebus, his axe radiating a black glow, he swung downwards on Erebus's sword, who looked as if he was going to have his arms broken for deflecting this strike. Percy dodged a high attack, the two, now both fifteen meters tall, fought. Percy swung for Erebus's legs, and missed, but dodged the attack on his jaw. Erebus swung wildly, and Percy deflected easily, punching Erebus in the jaw. Erebus grunted, spitting a tooth out, only to be met with a kick to the groin from Percy. Erebus tried to regain his ground, but Percy was quicker, kicking Erebus's legs out from underneath him, and bringing his axe down in a deadly arc, but Erebus just narrowly countered. Percy noticed Order and Chaos watching from the sideline, but he didn't care. He pushed away a swing from Erebus before giving Erebus two more punches to the ribs. Percy's tattoo flamed black, dancing and moving in his skin, giving him strength. Erebus jabbed generously at Percy's midsection, and Percy cut his hand off, drawing a scream from Erebus, who fell to a knee. Percy picked his sword up, and placed it at Erebus's throat.

"Don't kill me Perseus. I can do more for you than you know." Erebus said. Percy's eyebrows raised.

"Your mother's death was a lie." Percy's heart dropped.

"Elaborate."

"Chaos killed your mother, in fear of your power. She wanted you to die to depression, so she wouldn't have to face you later." Percy's eyes flicked to where Chaos was sitting. There was wind around Percy starting to form. He snarled at Erebus.

"You lie."

"I swear on my life, to Perseus's name, I do not lie." Erebus growled back.

Percy dropped the sword. He slowed time.

"Tell me it's wrong." He said to Order, whose eyes were wide. Percy looked at Chaos, and she did not meet his eyes. It was true.

Time was replenished, and Percy growled, his growl becoming a scream of rage.

Erebus shook his head. Percy charged him, dodging the slash at his midsection, grabbing Erebus's head, tossing him twelve yards back like it was nothing. He walked up to where Erebus lay, kicking him in the ribs.

"You see my face? Your life is DONE!" Percy screamed, and swung with his axe, but was barely met with Erebus's sword, which went flying due to the contact. Percy swung his axe down, but was met with a beam of power, so he tried again, and again, until on the fourth try, his axe slowly cleaved the beam, and embedded itself in Erebus's chest.

"You picked the wrong people." Percy snarled, removing his axe, and cutting Erebus's legs off at the knees. He screamed.

Aether couldn't watch this. He turned away.

Percy was done with Erebus, turning to Chaos. His wings and tattoo seemed to flame power, growing by the second.

"JOIN YOUR FAMILY IN EXTINCTION!" He screamed, flashing to behind Chaos, punching her in the nape. She crumbled with a scream.

He picked her up, and tossed her around like a rag doll.

"You're NOTHING to me." Percy growled. She tried to summon a sword, before Percy felt his axe, and swung, cutting her right hand from her arm. Chaos backed in fear. Percy summoned fire in his hand, before gripping the skin outside Chaos's ribcage, giving her third degree burns, forcing her to a knee, and kicking her in the skull.

"Don't kill me Perseus!" She begged. Percy drew his axe, slashing down, but Chaos flashed to five feet in front of Percy, shooting a beam of energy at him from both her hand. Percy did the same, and their two tendrils of power met in the middle.

"You can't win this, Chaos!" Percy growled, and Chaos's eyes narrowed. Percy's senses tingled, and he turned, still holding Chaos's energy, and met the pillar of Aether.

"Traitor." Percy whispered, but it was clear as day. Aether shook his head.

"I cannot sit by and watch my mother die. You'd do the same in my position." Percy growled, applying pressure on Aether's side, which easily tilted the tug-o-war in his favor. Percy smirked, flashing to behind Aether, and kicked his legs out from under him, before setting his eyes on Chaos.

Percy walked towards her, summoning his axe back to him. She nodded.

Percy met her initial jab with a dodge, and a swing at the spear, which his axe bounced off effortlessly. He swung sideways, and Chaos countered with the grip of her spear, before attempting to try Percy's neck, which he dodged effortlessly.

Percy was flung back by Aether, about fifteen feet, then Aether charged him. Percy rose, smiling at the god. Aether swung his sword, which got locked in the blade of Percy's axe.

"You'll die, like your brothers." Percy spat. Aether growled, jumping back, and stabbing at Percy's groin, which he jumped over.

"You have to see," Aether started, dodging a swing from Percy, "Why I had to betray you!"

"You didn't betray me. You betrayed yourself." Percy snarled, spinning, and slashing down, cutting off Aether's right leg from his knee.

"No, Perseus!" Aether dropped his sword, which Percy grabbed mid-air, before decapitating the god, swiftly. Percy caught his breath, looking up at the protogenoi of the void, whose gaze awaited his. Chaos sighed.

"I never approved of your relationship with my daughter." She said.

"There's nothing you can do about that now, I'm afraid." Percy said, dropping Aether's sword, next to his dissolving corpse, and walking towards Chaos. Pontus had defeated Tartarus, not killing him, as Percy requested, and Aether made quick work of Hemera.

"It's just me and you now, Chaos. There's nothing you can do to stop me. You know it as well as I do."

"Kill me and your love will be in shambles."

"She will understand my reasoning. You and your little children let family get in the way of what really needs to happen- power cleansing." Percy growled.

"And what will cleansing do for the world? You're the strongest being in the universe by far now, Perseus. Do not act as if you can be killed by anyone outside of my kin." Chaos said.

"You don't see- blinded by greed and power, as everyone else was. The universe had this coming since it's inception. Times for a new ruler are upon us."

"And you're that ruler?" Chaos said. Percy shook his head.

"I don't know who that is, yet. I doubt it'll be me." Chaos sighed.

"You do not understand your place yet, Perseus, and it is the most worrying thing from all of this. You're the strongest in the universe now." Chaos said.

"You killed my mother." He snarled.

"So be it." She said, picking her spear up. She charged Percy, and he was ready.

It all happened so quick.

Chaos tried a jab at Percy's neck, which he caught with one hand, before dropping his axe, and grabbing the spear with two, snapping it from Chaos's grip, spinning, and stabbing it into her collarbone from behind. She cried pain, but Percy grabbed his axe, kicking Chaos to a kneel in front of him. Percy kicked her forward, and there was now a few feet of space between them, and Percy summoned for his axe, and it flew to him. He ran forward, jumping high in the air, bringing his sword down in an arc.

Chaos assumed this was her last moments.

She deserved death, in truth, because she did do Percy wrong through her actions. She had no reason to fear him, and the only reason she has now she caused.

She closed her eyes, and a tear formed, and she waited for the pain.

I love you, Annabeth.

But the pain never came. There was an earth-shaking slam, and as Chaos opened her eyes, Percy's axe was embedded into the ground next to her, narrowly missing her head.

"You'll pay for your sins, Chaos. But today is not that day. Leave, and go heal yourself. I'll talk with you later." Percy spat. Chaos nodded urgently, flashing away.

Percy looked around. Three dead corpses, three faded protogenoi. Three spots to fill. His eyes were met by the gazes of some of his allies, his friends, his father.

"You've done well today, Perseus." Order said, smiling at his son, who nodded. The other protogenoi patted him on the back, understanding the strength it took to fight off Erebus, Chaos, and Aether.

"Why'd you keep me alive, Perseus?" Tartarus said. "Pontus could've killed me, but said you told him not to." Percy looked.

"Old friend, I wish for a rejuvenation, a revamp of the primordial council, but that does not mean that everyone must die. I appreciate you, and like you, therefore I want you alive." Percy said, placing his hand on Tartarus's shoulder, and his other in Tartarus's hand.

"I believe I have a war to attend to." Percy smiled at the gods, before flashing out.

When Tartarus opened his hand, his string lay there.

X

The situation was better than what Percy thought. He appeared next to Aydn and Alex, at a normal size, who fought back to back, and that immediately brightened his day.

He was rushed by a demigod, who Percy punched unconscious, leaving him on the ground. He walked forward to his two friends, when someone caught his shoulder, and Percy dodged a generous attack of the sword. Percy whirled around, twirling his axe.

"You killed my BOYFRIEND!" The girl screamed, slashing at Percy, who caught the blade with his hand, using dark magic to harden his skin.

"And I'll kill you as well, child." He spat, and her eyes widened, before deciding to punch him in the groin. He fell to a knee, growling, and Seta was still shocked.

She swung at his neck, but her sword bounced off his skin harmlessly. He stood up, meeting her eyes, snarling.

"You picked the wrong side." He said, throwing kick out at her legs, missing.

"I chose the side that isn't led by a monster."
"Erebus is dead. You have no leader." Seta gasped.
"You LIE!" she screamed, charging him. He ran at her, lowering his head, and flipping her over him, and she landed on her back, hard, and got the wind knocked out of her.

Percy recovered quicker, turning, and bringing his axe down onto the skull of the girl.

"I'd do no such thing." He said, smirking.

Percy continued his walk to his friends, using the elements to shut down anyone who tested him. A hellhound jumped at him? He used water to push it into the ground, killing it.

"Perseus!" Aydn called to him, catching the eyes of his leader. "We're winning, but there's still many of them." Percy nodded.
"Erebus, Aether and Hemera are dead. We've won this war, Aydn." Percy said, deflecting a sword, and cutting a demigod in half. Aydn's eyes widened.

"You killed them?"

"At the cost of learning an unfortunate truth, which will lead to events that we'll deal with later." He ducked under Aydn's blade, uppercutting a crying demigod. The power in his bones still felt limitless… as if he were still consuming what was underneath the mountain. He screamed, shooting black tendrils from his hands, cleaving a row of monsters and demigods in front of him. He pushed forward, using his fists and hands to destroy anything that dare test him. He jumped over a kick from a demigod, before punching his head off his body, and catching the throat of Ares, who was jumping at him. Percy recognized him immediately.

"You've made a mistake, child." Percy growled, tightening his grip. Ares couldn't breath, squirming in the hand of Percy. Percy dropped Ares, who was still choking, and grabbed him from his neck and his leg, pulling apart with all of his strength.

The God of War was split in half at the bare hands of Percy.

Percy screamed again, this time, from the skies, black pillars of energy shot down, landing on the ground. The same ones he appeared in originally.

A majority of Erebus's army and some of his was vaporized on sight.

Then he blacked out.

X

"You're dumb, Perseus. Dumb." He shot up, and was in a familiar black room.

"Who am I talking to? Myself or Father?" He asked, standing, but fell when he got to his feet.

"Slow down. It's Order. You overexerted yourself."
"What did I do again?"

"You went into your true form and eradicated Erebus's army. Even some of your own. You probably killed around one to one and a half million monsters and demigods in one action. Such a display of power… I've never seen such in my life." Order said, and Percy could hear his chuckle.

"Did I win?"

"Yes. Dominantly, to be honest. The only issue now is the open domains you left behind…"

"ughhhh…" Percy rolled back onto his back.

"You've made me proud, Percy. I have no doubt, when it is your time, you'll do an amazing job." Order smiled. Percy shook his head.

"I don't want to think about that, Father." Order laughed.

"You'll wake soon. But it is time I show you the truth, Perseus." Order said, turning away from his son.

Long ago, there was a prophecy given from a mortal poet, and at first glance, me and Chaos assumed he was spitting nonsense, until he'd mentioned my name. There was no serious following for me at the time, and up to this point, no idea of a second creator, at all.

The prophecy saw the first son of Order being the greatest being in the universe, stronger than the two creators combined. It foresaw everything- from your first battles to your love.

I was scared beyond belief, to know that my son will one day overtake me. My pride had never been something I hid, and this was just a blow to it.

But I accepted the truth, and the idea that my downfall, may one day be my son.

I had met this woman- an amazing woman, one of the strongest and most dedicated, most beautiful women I'd ever met, by the name of Ivy Jackson, a mortal on Earth.

For one night, I made her immortal, I made her that of a Titan, and we consummated our relationship, and she was impregnated with you.

I'd never been so proud-yet, so scared, in my existence. Around this time, Chaos had done the same, with a man, but as it goes with most, to all of Chaos's mortal suitors, they're to die after they see her. This one did just that, burnt to a crisp by the fires of a demon the day after he and Chaos had intercourse.

I did the opposite, opting to take Ivy into my life, into the void, leaving her immortal, and letting her live in the castle. Nobody opposed the choice, as I even took in her second son, knowing it'd only benefit you.

Aydn Zajak Jackson, or as you know him, just Aydn Zajak.

You two are blood brothers, one of the same, but with different paths and different fathers.

He's known the truth for many millennia, before he was entombed on Iridonia.

You were born, and I knew immediately the prophecy was correct. I'd been present for the birthing of those of the Olympian Gods, and the Protogenoi, and the Gigantes, and they all radiated dominance, and power, on birth.

But you, you were something special. You came out of the womb with power levels to match that of the greatest demigod to ever live, and I knew it were to only grow from there.

At the age of five, you matched that of an Olympian god.

At the age of ten, you were a Titan.

Then Chaos did something without my approval- she sealed your power, your potential, underneath Mount Vesuvius, where you just were. I knew that her pride was getting the better of her, and she wanted nothing but to sabotage you, to get in your way. I could not do much about it, as we were even power levels at this point, and if I were to declare war, it'd be a massacre all over the universe.

The terms she set at the seal were that only 5% of what was stored was to be released every five years, and it would come find you, wherever you were in the universe, even the void.

I knew this was going to hinder you, majorly, so I created the Mark of Order. It is the tattoo that appears on your body, whenever you enter a state of war. It enables an additional 15% of power, wherever you are on the scale. I created it, and blessed you with it, so that you can give the same mark to anyone you choose, but also to help you. I knew it wasn't going to be enough, but I held faith in you.

Then you met the daughter of Chaos.

Truth be told, I hid my original intentions.

I was not jealous of you, or your relationship. I acted so, so that when it comes time, I can curse you, only for the curse to play out, enabling your true potential.

Then you two spent your first nights together, and merged souls, becoming one. I knew then and there, I'd made the right choice. No matter what happens, you'll always be there for her, and she'll always be there for you.

I can only be so sorry for the years of torment I caused you and Annabeth, but I was angry at the woman who cursed you initially, and I needed payback, as well as a plan.

I understand the pain the curse brought you. I've never opposed any relationship you have with the daughter of Chaos, and I know this matters less now that you're married, but I do think you two are perfect together. She gives you strength when you need it, and you give her the safety she needs.

I was not aware of Chaos's plan, truth be told. I lied, in that bedroom, to keep her safe. I knew that when you entered the state, you'd have the power to kill her thrice over, therefore I lied so you wouldn't do so.

Chaos murdered your mother in fear.

She was fearful of your power, your potential, and wanted you to lose motivation. To burn out. She came to me, telling me of her plans, of how it ensures our safety as the two strongest beings in the universe. She told me of security, of kingdoms, reigning in our names. I shook my head at her, told her no, and that killing Ivy would result in pain worse than anything she can imagine. I know you better than anyone else, and I know for a fact you'll keep pushing, Until you bleed out. Chaos thankfully gave her a swift death, but I watched it happen.

I do not think I have many failures in life, but allowing that to happen is one of them.

I've never been so disappointed in myself in my entire existence.

I'm weak now, my son. And I am afraid my time is soon. Whoever replaces me, you or someone else, I know will be the greatest heir, because they were hand picked by you.

I've done wrong by you, so many times, yet you've always came back for me. To this day, I still wonder why. Why do you treat others so nicely, despite some of the wrongdoing they might have been involved in?

I think I finally understand, your empathy, sympathy. You understand people's pain, because you were there as well. That is not something I can do.

I love you, my son, never forget that, and no matter what you do, I'm so, so confident that you'll make my namesake and my legacy proud.

-Order.

Percy was in tears at the end, as well as Annabeth. They sat, side by side, in a queen-size bed, somewhere in Monaco.

"Why does this universe have to be so cruel?" Percy asked, setting the note down. Annabeth shook her head.

"I cannot believe my mother would do such a thing." Annabeth wiped a tear. "The deception…" Percy kissed her head.

"Your mother had her reasons, and they were wrong. She had nothing to fear. Matter of fact, I fell in love with a daughter of Chaos." Annabeth laughed through the tears. Percy smiled.

"What will you do to her?"
"What she deserves."

this is the last 'chapter', but i'll post an epilogue soon.

fun stuff, hope you enjoyed it. 3