The roar of the crowd was thunderous. Thousands of workers packed together under the low dome of the arena, partially hidden in shadow. They pounded on the energy barriers, yelling at the top of their lungs for the event to start. Their thirst for entertainment was about to be satisfied for the first time in 7 days with this first fight. There would only be one death tonight but a whole lot of blood.

Percy squared his shoulders as he walked up the tunnel towards the light and chaos.

The ground was actually vibrating from the sheer noise and the stomping of feet. He felt the old familiar fire stir within him. Over the years on his various quests, Percy learned something about himself that disturbed him: he enjoyed fighting. He loved the power. The adrenaline. The feeling of knowing you were better than your opponent. He only truly started suppressing it when it began taking a dark turn. When he began torturing Akhyls or attempting to literally explode an immortal's head using his own blood...that was when he started pumping the brakes. But the Greek world was a place where you were constantly forced to let your other more murderous side come out and play.

After the Giant War, Percy felt a calm settle in. Knowing his days of fighting were coming to a close. All he has to do was help Chiron train the new generation and bounce. But then Coeus and his plans happened. He turned immortal. He fell into Chaos and awoke in Grimbard. He had to fight because it was the only thing he knew how to do. So he fought.

Percy emerged into the arena. The seats went up for dozens of rows. It was smaller than a basketball stadium but only just. The aliens of this galaxy were colorful. So many species and races within those species and all in different shades. So many limbs and horns and tentacles and number of eyes and size of teeth. Percy still wasn't used to it. If he had to guesstimate, he would say he had been stranded in this new world for about six months and he still wasn't used to the sheer variety there was. It was like Earth but if the animals were all sentient.

The hidden announcer's voice reverberated through the room but the crowd only went more nuts. "And to start tonight's first match, we have Percy Jackson! A 'human' he calls himself from the planet of Manhattan! He weighs in at 180 pounds and stands just below six feet."

The aliens immediately began booing and jeering at him. Percy's face was as lifeless as stone. He had been in those very stands a dozen times, studying the vibe. The people had their muscles broken down daily working the tunneler machines. Spending months at a time away from their family, away from their lovers all in the name of making some fast money. There were some who took it as a regular job. And then there were the bitter ones who resented having to work in such conditions. They were the ones who hissed at the unknown fighters. They wanted to see big aliens fight other big aliens. They just wanted a release. They just wanted blood.

"Come on, freak! Get your white ass out there! We want to see real men fight!"

"Stop wasting time!"

"Ey, you better put on a show or I'm looking for you tonight, boy!"

Percy was only glad the energy barriers prevented anyone from throwing shit at him. The pathway was just wide enough for four humans to walk side by side so he had all sorts of creatures staring him down and screaming at him only feet away. He walked forward, nervous but not allowing himself to show an ounce of fear. Fake it to make it. These were just the usual pre-fight rituals. They wanted a show and if that show was a fighter shitting his pants, that was enough.

He wasn't freezing but it was just cool enough that it made him uncomfortable, especially without a shirt. He only had his work pants and boots on, knowing shirts were the clothing most often torn to shreds in fights. He considered trimming his hair down to prevent any shenanigans but ultimately decided not to. He was very fond of his hair. He would look even smaller without his mane.

He reached the entrance to the arena and the guy controlling the panel grinned at him. "Get ready to wake up in the infirmary, buddy. I've seen the other guy."

Percy said nothing, walking through the huge doorway. The energy pulsed to life, locking him in. The crowd was almost pressed against the walls now, pumping their fists. He wanted to pace but thought it would be more intimidating to stay in place and look nonchalant. Focused and fearless. His wolf stare morphed to life as he saw the 'other guy'.

"Fuck." He muttered.

His mind took him back to the Zorum tribe that rescued him when he first came to Grimbard. This was one of their species. A Zorum with crimson scales covering him head to foot. His three antennae dangled over his forehead like bangs. He showed off his yellow angelfish teeth, pointing a threatening finger at Percy. The crowd went ballistic, chanting the usual, "BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!"

The announcer's voice hid a smile. "I think we all know who this is! Harook the Zorum from Hanaku! A true freak of nature, towering over the average Zorum at 8 feet tall, 400 pounds of pure red muscle. All I can say Mr. Jackson, I hope we see you at work tomorrow. Okayyy, place your bets now! As soon as he enters the arena, the betting rooms will be closed!"

The people started typing away on their holopads. Harook's walk from the tunnels to the door took all of two blinks to Percy. The Zorum walked up the tiny steps and he was sealed inside. "All bets are in! Incredible! That's the 66th time the screens have been 100% in favor of one fighter in over 25 years!"

Percy looked up at the screens, silently cursing the crowd. If no one betted for him, he would reap none of the profits! He would have to fight not for money, but to survive.

"Don't worry, Mr. Jackson. Not many know this but if the betting percentage is completely against you, the Pits grant a small payout to the poor soul. Anyway, you'll see once you recover. Remember fighters: this is a no-kill fight! If a death occurs, the survivor WILL be reported to the Rayune overseers and you will be ejected, that I guarantee. Ready? Fight!"

Harook was no joke. This was Red Hulk in the flesh. The only advantage Percy could think of was his size. He would be far more maneuverable than the red alien in this tiny space. He also had the element of surprise. Harook would assume him to break in half like a twig. And he definitely wouldn't expect a punch to even tickle his scales.

Percy thought back years. If his 16 year old self was here, he would make some smart comment on Harook's size. He would use humor to make the situation easier to digest. That was not him now. After going through Tartarus, after seeing Chiron die, after hearing Tartarus threaten to rape Annabeth, after spending months as a slave to the Zorum, his sense of humor had run its course. And especially here, he had to mold a new image. He had to inspire fear and always carry an aura of danger or he would be made an easy target. This was his chance to realize that image: the silent killer.

When the fired up Zorum closed the distance in a single step and threw the first punch, Percy's instincts kicked. If he hadn't reacted as fast as he had, he would've felt Harook's power firsthand. The creature was unbelievably fast. Percy's feet danced, one two, coming around to his side. He made a mental note not to underestimate him. But he did just that. He hadn't expected Harook to turn that fast but he did, a heavy arm already reaching out. It was easy to duck under but the hulk's foot was moving in tandem and caught Percy's chest and face.

He had never been ragdolled before. He was now. Before he even hit the energy wall, Harook grabbed his foot out of mid-air, swinging him high in an arc and back down into the ground. The back of his skull hit the floor so hard, had he been mortal, he would've been dead instantly. His eyes rattled in his skull but he refused to scream. The first fist impacted only a second later. Then a flurry of blows hit him, most caught by his face.

The entire room vibrated as a frenzy overtook them. "Wow! Golden blood from Percy Jackson! Such a unique color! Fun fact, only a handful of species have ever been documented to bleed that color! Oooh, yeah we won't see him tomorrow. Harook, you might want to stop. You continue, there'll definitely be an ejection soon. Our durability checks only guarantee so many blows before death."

The blows stopped coming. Percy felt his face was not quite right. It felt tight, like his skull had been compressed, his brain three sizes too small. There was blood in his eyes, his nose, his mouth. His head was fuzzy, but he could still feel: Pain and Fury. His hands turned to fists. With a single thought, the blood rose off his skin, floating in the air. His fractured skull mended, his nose popped back into place, his eyes cleared, his teeth regrew. He could see the crowd like rabid fangirls, screaming Harook's name. The Zorum had his back to him, showboating and flexing his muscles.

Percy slowly got to his feet, controlling the ichor to move into his mouth. He swished the blood in between his teeth, burning holes in the back of the Zorum's skull. "Oh my! Percy Jackson is miraculously back on his feet! The almighty Emergarst must have taken pity on him!"

The Zorum swiveled around, disbelief evident on his face. Percy stared him down, waiting for him to move.

"BLOOD! BLOOD! BLOOD!"

"The crowd has spoken gentlemen! This is still a fight!"

The Zorum looked like he was psyching himself up. Percy raised his hand and beckoned him over. Harook snorted like a bull and squared his shoulders. He charged forward again and Percy was ready. He twitched his head an inch to the right, feeling the ghost of the punch on his cheek. He kicked off the ground, rising up to meet the giant. Harook had no eye lids as a native to the ocean planet of Hanaku so he caught the full glory of the ichor as it left Percy's mouth.

"Loce's lustrous lashes, what a spray!"

By the time the announcer completed his sentence, Harook was slamming against the energy wall on the far side of the arena. The complete silence that followed was almost more deafening than the bloody screams that followed, the announcer going ham. Harook looked more stunned than hurt, cupping his face as he looked at him. The ichor was filtered through his powerful eyes. Percy spit out the last drops of blood on the floor and popped his neck. He put up his hands and waited. Harook hesitantly rose to his feet, expecting a rush or sneak attack.

Now the Zorum was really freaked out. Percy slowly advanced forward, deliberately prolonging it. If they liked the fight, they would want to see him again next time.

Harook could've started punching again or retreating but his brain seemed to have blanked on him. He looked stupid trying to figure out what to do. Percy took it one step at a time, enjoying the build-up. "You ready?" He asked him.

The Zorum opened his mouth to say something and Percy sprang, revealing his true speed. His fist carried the power of a hundred men and as it connected, Harook instantly lost several teeth. Before his face even had time to recoil, Percy broke into a sequence of attacks. An uppercut, a jab to the throat, a kick to the chest. He landed on the floor as the giant crashed back into the wall. In another instant, Percy drove his fist a foot into the alien's gut, forcing him to lower his upper body but he overdid it. Now the Zorum was on his knees, trying to draw in breath. Percy kicked his shoulder out of place and watched as he collapsed onto his face, curling into a ball. He could only tap the floor three times with his one good hand, signaling his surrender.

"And we have a winner! Percy Jackson of Manhattan everybody! We'll definitely book him for next week! I'm sure you'll want to see him again! Mr. Jackson, please come to the office to claim your reward!"

Percy walked out without another glance at the crowd, keeping up his new silent killer persona. The roars of audience followed him all the way out.

The Fighting Pit's reward system was too good to be passed on. They depended on the bets. They didn't sell tickets or concessions but Percy was sure if they could, they would. Colony AR-31 surely charged them exorbitant rent and that was why fights only happened once a week. The workers only made so much money a day. If it became a nightly event, they wouldn't sell nearly enough.

If the crowd collectively bet 10,000 achym on one guy, the fighter who won got 20 percent of the money that was bet on him. If the fighter lost, he still got 10 percent of whatever was bet on him. That was insanely profitable for a popular fighter, considering a worker only made about 200 achym a day.

Percy had deliberated on whether or not to get into the sport. It worried him how much he wanted to do it. He could almost feel his dark side sweet talking him into it. But there was one major problem that forced him into fighting. To find a way back, he had agreed to Warden Temenok's offer: Work for him in Colony AR-31, buy a ship from him, and find a way back home. But the income was slow. Years too slow. And even the cheapest ship Temenok was willing to sell him cost so much money it was a blatant cheat. Percy couldn't do anything about that however. He needed another source of income. And on this floating rock, the best way to make money...was to fight.

So he stood outside the office, goosebumps covering his body. It was even colder out here. The 'office' was a regular dorm room where the events were organized. The main man himself was waiting for him. The cheers from the crowd and the announcer could still be heard. The man in the cell was a Rayune himself. Percy guessed that because of his species, he had more leeway when communicating with the Grimbard overseers. He had no idea how he had convinced the overseer to let him start up his own fighting organization, especially one where at least one person died every night.

The alien looked down at his holopad. "You were not the favorite of that fight, huh? But you came out without a scratch. How's the other guy?"

Percy almost glared at him. "The announcer said there was a payout."

The Rayune shrugged. "Sure, sure. The Colony didn't want to patch up fighters so they ordered an amount to be paid to help cover the costs."

Percy blinked. The Rayune was too honest for his liking. He could've done without knowing that. But it didn't surprise him. The Colony and its inhabitants were all so far gone into scumbagville, it was amazing the Grimbardian government allowed a mining colony to operate like this. Or at the very least, if they didn't know, the lack of oversight was incredible.

"How much?" Percy said.

The Organizer pressed a button on the wall and a small square section powered off the mirage-like barrier. He tossed him a metal purse box. Percy snatched it from the air and turned on his heel.

"No thanks?" The Rayune raised an eyebrow.

Percy didn't even turn his head. "For something you're forced to do?"

It was a long walk back to his room. This time, he lost himself in his thoughts. Wondering how he could have adapted so quickly to life in a new galaxy. It was all beginning to tire out his psyche. The only thing that kept him going was the thought that there was still an out. There was an endgame. All he had to do was keep strong.

"I'm coming, Annabeth. Please, hold on. For me."

Six Months Earlier...

Percy jolted awake. First thing he noticed? He was naked. Not, "I'm alive!" or "Where the hell am I?". Nope, he was worried about his dong flapping in the wind.

Percy made himself a promise not too long ago to take things into stride but, uh, how the hell do you take falling into Chaos and actually surviving into stride? Aside from being butt-naked, he had some sort of tree roots tying his legs and arms together, too strong to break out of. He lay in the middle of a clearing not too far from water.

The world was...different. The skies a little too orange, the trees unlike any he had ever seen. The white trunks resembled those of mushrooms but it had branches with orange leaves and they stretched up to half the height of skyscrapers. The dirt was not brown but black, like the shores of a volcano island. The sea that stretched out had a purple hue to it which reflected into the sky, making the whole world take on a mauve shade. The sun was a little too orange than the one he knew.

Now Percy asked it. "Where the hell am I?"

Hidden in the trees, something rustled. Percy scrambled to hide his johnson, expecting some mortals to find him. When he saw what came out of the mushroom trees, he wished it was humans that found him.

The only thing they had in common with people was their shape. All six of them stood on two legs with monkey-like feet. Their arms were normal but their hands only held four fingers. Out of their foreheads came three short antennae with points that glowed slightly. Beyond that, they had no hair. They wore only loin-cloths. Their skin was a darker shade of purple, eminence, and full of organic scale armor. Their eyes were big, white and orange, and lidless like fish. Overall, Percy figured there was some kinky goddess or god out there that had a thing for angel fish. That didn't explain the purple though.

"Uh, hey guys. You friendly to-" Percy almost said demigods and stopped himself but said it anyways. No matter his lineage, he was a half-blood at heart. "Demigods?"

They bared their teeth at him, also akin to an angel fish's. "Grimbard?" One of them growled, menacingly.

Percy frowned. "What?"

He figured they understood enough to know he was confused. The same one who spoke approached him and levelled a weird looking weapon at him. It was like someone had chopped off the tip of a minigun, stuck it on a stick, and filled the holes with spears. It repeated itself slowly. "Grim-bard."

Percy didn't know how but he knew what they were asking. "No. I'm not whatever that is. No Grimbard."

The leader narrowed his eyes and rattled on in a strange dialect, destroying the possibility that maybe Grimbard was an English word. Though Percy didn't understand a word, he grasped the infliction behind the exchange. "Listen, buddy. I swear, I'm not Grimbard. I don't know how I got here or where this is. After you cut these ropes, can I get a loincloth please?" He looked at them all and got a sinking feeling when they stared at him angrily. "You're letting me loose, right?"

Before he could stop them, they hauled him up and he struggled to cover his nether regions as they led him through the forest. Percy hadn't realized before in his confusion but everything here was warm. If he had to guess it was some region of the Amazon distorted by a Greek god or something. He discreetly pulled at his bonds but they were too strong even for him. One of them noticed his attempt and whacked him with the butt of his mini-gun spear.

Percy scowled at him but said nothing. They wouldn't understand him anyway. They led him on for miles and miles across streams of the slightly purple water and white and orange mushroom-trees. The black dirt was moist in between his toes and soles. "Jeez, I'm gonna need a pedicure after this. I haven't changed my socks in about a week."

They just stared at him. Though they travelled for what must have been hours, the sun didn't change position in the sky at all. They passed creatures a bit similar to the ones he knew: lizards and birds. Bugs ran rampant, sometimes crawling over his feet. At that point he panicked and did a little dance to throw them off and the warriors made a popping sound with their mouths in rapid succession.

He realized they were laughing at him. Percy quietly began brooding. Though he supposedly faded from existence, he was alive and healthy. He no longer felt the blow that Tartarus had launched at him. He would have rubbed his chin if he could. A Primordial landing a hit on him should have killed him instantly. Instead, he remembered vividly the Pit spinning in and out of view as he fell. He remembered the feeling of a primal power emerging from within and actually staggering the dark god.

That was the final nail in the coffin. Percy was the son of a Primordial. How else could he have survived a blow from Tartarus? It didn't matter to Percy however. He wasn't proud of it. Gaea? His mother? That was crazy and revolting. If Coeus was right then the Greek world was a sick place and Percy couldn't wait to be far from it. He just had to figure out how to escape from wherever the heck he was. It wasn't Tartarus, that was for sure. And if it wasn't the Pit, the better. Although, Tartarus said Annabeth had fallen in for him. If that was true, Percy was damn sure he would have to return one way or another. She would not be alone for long. And there was always the possibility he was lying just to torture him.

He didn't know how long he had been out. For all he knew, he had been floating in limbo for centuries and been spat back out onto an Earth that had mutated beyond recognition. Coeus might've already invaded Olympus or perhaps Camp Jupiter and it was him who had fucked some angelfish to make these guys. Anything was possible at this point. Whatever the case, he had to find a way out. People were counting on him.

When they reached the edge of the forest, Percy became all too aware of his ass cheeks on full display. Without the dark cover of the trees, the orange sun would put him on a spotlight. As the walked out of the trees, he saw what the fish scales were for. There were over two dozen of the very same creatures swimming around those white mushroom trees. The waters seemed to be shallow enough to support the growth of a grove of them. There were big holes like doorways in the thick trees and bridges connecting them using the pale wood. Crossing the lines were dozens more, all carrying fish to and from. The black dirt met bright white sands, the first normal thing Percy saw. Along the shore, there were various setups where the purple-fleshed bipedal community was hammering away at a crimson metal. If there was one thing this place had, it was color.

They led him down to the waters and one by one, the creatures stopped what they were doing and looked at him. Percy thought his hands did a good job but he could do nothing about his white waffles. They didn't care to hide the stares but Percy got the feeling they were more along the lines of innocent curiosity. Still, it didn't put him at ease.

One of the creatures, Percy couldn't really tell them apart, pointed in the middle of the trees and he knew the thing wanted him to swim. Percy simply raised his tied hands. This weird species didn't know he could survive regardless but why tell them that? The purple monster didn't lower his finger. Percy sighed and shuffled over to the water, cursing them. He braced for the water to be cold but found it warm, like everything else. He dove in and figured if there was any chance to escape, this was it.

He did a fish paddle as fast as he could, thinking his advantage as a son of the sea would help him. Of course, the creatures were natives of the water. They swam gracefully through the water, easily catching him and forming a sentry around him. Two of them grabbed an arm and pulled him along. Percy stopped swimming, trying to make them work for their kidnapping but they were powerful indeed.

His ADHD took in all the details. How their monkey feet had an almost invisible webbing that helped propel them through the water. The combination of orange light and purple water making a sort of fiery mud that clouded everything like a fog. Even so, Percy's radar picked up the coral reefs along the bottom and thousands of fish swimming about. The area where the trees stood was the high ground and the rest declined at a sharp rate like a hill submerged in water. At the bottom, like a beacon, sat a white dome made of the same wood. Connected to it were a dozen limbs so the structure looked like an octopus.

There were no other buildings in sight. Just the lonely cephalopod resting on the seafloor.

Percy began noticing how the water buzzed and pulsed, like energy waiting to be unleashed. Never before had he felt water this potent, not even in the Sea of Monsters. It was as if magic itself was infused into it. He wondered what would happen if he drank it. If it was poison...

It was like drinking ambrosia! It invigorated him the same way gasoline made an engine roar to life. His muscles tensed and he pulled at the bonds, noticing them begin to loosen. It was now that Percy really began to wonder where he was. Water like this didn't exist anywhere that he knew of. Even his father's home Atlantis wasn't submerged in a liquid like this.

Now that he knew he could break out of the strange root-ropes, he began to see a plan. Obviously, these creatures were powerful swimmers. As fast as a son of Poseidon? Perhaps. But the fact that they hadn't ripped him to shreds made him wonder who they served and what his or her plans were for him. Not Coeus, surely. Pontus? He had seen the primordial perform wonders in the Sea of Monsters. His father? The possibility excited him, his blood pumping even faster. Before he made his escape, he would have to see this through.

What surprised him was the monsters didn't show an ounce of concern if he drowned. They somehow knew he could survive, which was curious. They must sense his bloodline. This was getting interesting...and suspicious.

They arrived at the octo-building. Each tentacle was open to the water and they floated him in. These creatures were either simple and non-materialistic or just primitive. No floors or paintings or windows. Only a dark curving tunnel leading to a glowing doorway. Inside sat one creature on a clam-like seat. He was a little different than the rest. Instead of three, he had six antennae. His skin and scales was a blend of crimson and light purple. His face was weathered and showed signs of heavy ageing. In his hands he held a white ruby the size of a golf ball, pulsing with energy.

"Sit," The creature spoke into his mind.

Percy's eyes narrowed. Yes, this was definitely suspicious. He took a seat.

A/N:

Hey, this is a reupload/rewrite. I literally copy and pasted a bit of the original chapter and rewrote the beginning to spice it up. Don't worry, the story was headed in this direction regardless but maybe if you guys see my goal for Percy, you'll like it better. Let me know what you think. Deuces! ;)