DISCLAIMER I do not Own Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Everything in this story bar the Plot, and a few Characters belongs to Rick Riordan.
Also, Feel free to review your thoughts on anything, I'd like to hear what I've done well as this is pretty much my first ever Fanfic. Additionally, criticisms both expected and welcomed, I'd also love to hear what I'm NOT doing well etc.
Chapter 5 -
Drip…
Drip…
Drip…
Perseus shook his head, Hearing more than feeling the repeated drum of water slapping his skull.
The noise irritated him.
So did the sensation of liquid trickling from forehead into the left ear.
Perseus expected to be chained in place, but found himself surprisingly mobile.
Sitting up he attempted to survey his surroundings.
Complete darkness met him.
Whistling, he attempted to gain awareness.
His Whistle travelled far, telling of a large open expanse. Probably a cave.
Attempting to stand, Perseus found he was bound, only to himself.
Four thick binding chains connected his arms together at his front, however the rest of his body was free.
"Interesting spectacle today boy. I was certain you wouldn't make it."
Perseus recognised the voice.
It was the White toga.
"Shocked me when you broke that binding chain, never seen that before."
Perseus still remained silent. He hated speaking to Romans.
"Tested on the strongest Demigods from our Academy here in Rome. Not even three quarter bloods have ever broken one."
Perseus, seeking to irritate the man, lay back down.
A pause followed.
"I'm in no mood to talk to myself boy. All I want is some information."
Perseus fake smiled, staying silent.
"You have no ambitions past fighting in that arena? You turn down freedom?"
Perseus wanted nothing more than freedom.
But he knew Romans. Romans always lied.
The man sighed, "How about, if you make even one noise right now, I'll return your sight?"
Perseus just laughed. If the man spoke the truth, he'd regain vision, if the man lied, he could retain his pride; he'd only laughed to show disrespect.
However true to his word, after a pause, the man stated "Release it."
Light suddenly burst through Perseus' closed lids.
Shocked, he opened them.
Around him stood a dozen people.
Three women in black robes, adorned with the sigil of Hecate. One wore an elaborate headdress, golden arms snaking from it's tip, giving it the appearance of a gaudy crown.
Opposite them stood three gruff men, clearly Emperors Engineers by their soot coated garb, and enormous hammers in hands. The middle one was bald, with a large orange beard. His leg was replaced by a large chunk of bronze. It was intricately crafted, pneumatic pistons hissing as he stood, holding the prosthetic together.
Standing between both groups, stood the White toga.
"Now boy, can we consider an agreement?"
Perseus just stared at him.
"Okay. Here is my offer; if you explain what Greece is doing on your land, I will free you."
Perseus didn't particularly like the Greeks, they had enslaved him same as the romans, and forced him to push Siege towers. A torment worse than any Gladiatorial fighting.
That being said, at least pushing siege towers was actual warfare, rather than senseless entertainment.
Perseus decided to stay quiet.
Realising Perseus would remain unhelpful, White toga grew irritated.
"There's no back to the Arena after this boy, you're too dangerous. Tell me or you'll be fed to the lions."
Perseus narrowed his eyes.
White toga stepped forward and struck him across the cheek.
"I don't have time for your pride."
"And I don't have time for your lard ass, filthy rat."
White toga shuffled back a few paces, visibly shocked at the sudden outburst.
None of the Women, nor Emperors Engineers moved a muscle.
The White toga, regaining composure, gripped Perseus' collar and pulled him to his feet. Perseus stood a full foot taller than the man, so White toga attempted to push him back on his knees.
Perseus stood tall.
Narrowing his eyes, White toga sneered
"I'm one of the Emperors highest advisors boy. I could have the inquisition here within moments, tearing your fingernails out and feeding you your own organs. You wouldn't even bleed out straight away, they're good with Ambrosia."
A pang of fear smacked Perseus' heart. A death by the inquisition wasn't a pretty one. Bleeding to death after months of torture wouldn't allow him a glorious battle hardy death.
"They wanted to set up a city. We didn't allow them."
It was useless information anyway.
The white toga grinned in satisfaction.
"A city? Strange… continue."
There wasn't anything else to say, but Perseus wanted to buy himself time. If he could somehow break his chains the same as last time…
"They tried trading with us, but they had little of value."
"What did they want from you?"
Perseus frowned. How would he know that, he couldn't even remember his homeland.
"I don't know. My parents traded food so they could fight."
White toga scrunched his face in confusion.
"You mean Greeks traded food for your soldiers?"
Perseus smiled slightly. Greeks and Romans never understood his people.
"No. My father gave the Greeks bundles of furs and meat in return for promise of battle. My mother simply joined him as shield maiden."
White toga simply stared at Perseus, disgust in his eyes.
"You pay the Greeks to fight for them?"
Perseus simply nodded.
"You said they tried to make a city. How many were there?"
Perseus had no idea in truth, but he remembered the stories his parents told him.
"I don't know your numbers well. But it is said the coast for mile after mile was covered in small dark haired men with strange helmets, feathers and hair sprouting their tops."
White toga looked frustrated for a moment, before sighing.
"Exaggeration?"
Perseus shook his head. It probably was, but he didn't care enough to say this.
"How did you stop this many men building a city?" He sounded sceptical.
"We killed them."
"You killed them? You must have huge cities yourself on this land of yours. " Perseus could tell he didn't believe him.
"Do your people get along well on your homeland?"
Again, Perseus had no idea.
He simply shrugged. "I don't know. I'm stuck in this dungeon, no?"
The White Toga chuckled.
"True, very true."
He stood and walked across the expansive cavern. Those surrounding him didn't move to follow.
Perseus simply sighed and lay back down, staring at the uneven ceiling.
He heard the White toga call from several feet away, "You're not going to ask about your freedom?"
Perseus scowled.
"Romans lie, same as Greeks. I'm used to it."
Silence followed, before he heard sandals growing closer.
"You boy, are an interesting one. It's a shame you're the main course for the Emperors name day."
Perseus glanced up at the White toga, and found the man staring at his tattooed hand.
-0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0-
"Come on Annabeth! It's the last night we have free before school starts."
She had her back to him, staring at the garden surrounding them.
"Ugh, haven't we been to enough balls and parties Luke? Take Thalia or something."
She leaned down and picked up a book that had been sitting on the bench to her side.
"Where is your Enthusiasm from last week? It's the Emperors name day for Mercury's sake! Plus it's not a party this time, It's at the colosseum."
Annabeth sighed, and turned to Luke.
"So? He already has a birthday, why do we need to celebrate his name day."
Luke glanced around him worriedly, hoping nobody was close enough to hear such words. Demigods could get away with a lot, being related to the gods, but Annabeth was a Greek, and such tyranny could get her more than killed.
Luke grabbed Annabeth's arm, and hissed into her ear
"Careful Annie, dangerous words."
Annabeth cringed at the name, but couldn't respond before somebody behind them cleared her throat.
"Sorry, I thought this spot would be empty"
Luke turned to see honey brown hair, and a woman wearing an elaborate stola, a large gem in the centre of her woollen belt.
"Calypso" Luke exclaimed, bowing hastily as he did so.
Annabeth, even more shocked than Luke, simply stood with her mouth agape.
Calypso smiled, and stepped forward "Please don't Luke, I'm not used to seeing you be so formal"
She paused in front of Luke, still smiling at his bowing figure, before turning and embracing Annabeth.
"I haven't seen you two in forever."
Annabeth, recovering from her stupor, hugged Calypso in return before replying, "We heard about the Academy. I think it's rubbish."
Luke chorused from behind Annabeth "Yeah, I wanted to take it up with the headmaster when I heard."
Calypso continued her smile, but Annabeth could see the sadness in her eyes.
"It's been a little strange since I left. Apparently I'm too different from you guys."
Her eyes continued to sag, so Annabeth decided to change the conversation.
"Excuse my interruption, but what brings you to Rome if not School, I know you hate this place!"
Calypso chuckled, and Luke joined in, though it was a little forced.
"Father brought me for the Emperors name day celebration. Apparently the clergy believe old Octavius is above everyone else, and is exempt from my superiority." Bitterness laced every word.
Annabeth grimaced.
"So you will be attending the fight later this evening?"
Luke could barely contain his giddiness.
Calypso turned and faced Luke for the first time since she'd arrived.
"Unfortunately, Yes. I'm even in the Imperial box."
Luke, failing to see the lack of enthusiasm grinned
"Exciting stuff! Annabeth and I were going as well, but our seats aren't quite as luxurious."
Calypso simply turned to Annabeth, arching a brow.
"Don't look at me like that, I didn't want to go."
Annabeth gagged exaggeratingly to emphasise her point.
Calypso laughed at the action.
"Well, I suppose we could both have a more pleasant evening if you accompanied me in the Imperial box? Chaos knows who else I would talk to."
Annabeth smiled sweetly and was about to thank Calypso before Luke's giddiness finally burst
"We would love to Calypso! It would be an honor!"
Annabeth turned to Luke and frowned. It was unnerving seeing Luke like this. He was usually confident and charming, but around Calypso he was always a child.
-0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0o0o0-
The sack reeked of rotting blood.
The seams between the stitching only allowed a tiny amount of light through, leaving Perseus all but blind.
But he didn't need sight to know what was happening.
He could hear the screaming crowds, the vicious clang of sword hitting sword, grunts sounding every so often as one man struggled to hold off another.
Closer, he heard people muttering prayer, and some simply breathing heavily. The sound of fear.
A man a few paces behind Perseus growled "Ah fuck. This runt's just pissed himself." Followed by a sobbing sound just behind.
A few seconds later Perseus heard a large man scream
"SHUT UP FILTHY DOGS"
The men surrounding Perseus quietened, until a young man to Perseus' left spoke
"You're not going to unchain him? Must be scared."
The man shouted back
"I SAID SHUT YOUR HOLES."
A snicker sounded throughout the otherwise quiet area.
"You've even blinded him. What a pathetic people you Romans are."
No voice followed, but Perseus heard a smacking sound and a lot of shuffling.
Silence followed, the crowds of the Colosseum had quietened to watch the intense battle ongoing.
The sword clangs were the only things to break the eerie lack of noise.
Finally a posh voice sounded from the side
"As long as he's in the centre of the group for the most part, nobody will see he's bound. They won't care too much regardless."
It was White toga.
Outside Perseus' Essence enhanced ears heard a guttural moan, and the Clanging swords ceased. Moments later the crowd erupted in cheers and screaming.
A booming voice, the same who always heralded Imperial ceremonies, burst through, announcing a new scene.
A rattling sounded above Perseus, and Perseus knew the sound.
The big metal gates to the entrance of the Arena were slowly rising.
Perseus heard a guard scream, "move" and felt himself being pushed forward.
To his left, that same young voice from before whispered to him "Drew the short straw it seems mate. Fucking Romans."
-oOoOoOoOoOoOoOo-
Calypso and Annabeth both sat far back from the action, chatting away about their time spent apart. They had been good friends before Calypso's sudden disappearance.
Luke however, was conflicted between paying attention to the fight before him, and Calypso herself.
The Titaness was Beautiful, he couldn't deny it. Luke had known many attractive women, Annabeth was one of them, and Luke did love Annabeth, even intended to propose to her should his Family allow it, but whenever he saw Calypso, he couldn't control himself.
He turned away from the intense fight, glancing at her. She was mid conversation with Annabeth, discussing something or other. He observed the slight curvature of her mouth, and the texture and colour of her skin.
Many man fell prey to Calypso's appearance; it was natural to be allured towards one of the Ancient blood.
Cheers erupted from the crowd, and Luke turned to see he had missed the pinnacle of the fight.
Slightly disappointed, he saw a large man in an elaborate Toga whisper into the Emperors ear.
Luke hadn't had the chance to talk to Octavius yet, as he wasn't exactly a guest of the Emperor, rather someone Calypso simply brought into the stand, and got away with because she was a Titan.
The emperor's eyes glazed over in a disturbingly lustful expression, and the man stepped towards the edge of the stands.
His voice rang out to the entire Colosseum.
"A gift from your Loving Emperor, in celebration of the 13th anniversary of his taking of the wreath, Octavius Caesar gives you the Defeat of Hannibal."
The crowd exploded. Food was tossed towards the centre of the arena as patrons chanted in glee.
A round of "Octavius, Octavius, Octavius" circled the Colosseum.
Calypso and Annabeth both paused there conversation, eyes darting towards the announcer in sock.
The Defeat of Hannibal was a well-known Act at the Colosseum. It was also beloved by the people of Rome.
Both Calypso and Annabeth knew why; The Defeat of Hannibal was a brutal, and utterly barbaric slaughter.
Luke, usually a fan of the Colosseum, grew uneasy at the news. It was one thing to watch two men of relatively equal footing battle, but watching legion after legion slaughter near defenceless slaves was another.
Octavius was a sick man. This was the second battle enactment he'd announced within the fortnight.
Luke turned towards the fat youth.
The man clearly wanted to see his Roman soldiers defeat a pitiful enemy after the last debarkle of the arena.
Staring out into the ring, Luke watched as hundreds of nearly unarmed slaves marched into the centre of the Colosseum.
Searching for the Unnamed slave from last week, Luke was disappointed to find him absent, or at least hidden amongst the hundreds of skinny young men.
He was surprised to see both Calypso and Annabeth leaning forward in their seats, eyes intent on the scene before them.
Luke glanced at them both; surprised at how his stomach wasn't churning as it normally did when he looked at Calypso. He arched a brow at Annabeth, who looked at him sternly
"As gruesome as this is. I owe it to those men to at least dignify them with my attention for what is about to come."
Calypso turned to her, and Luke expected a disgusted reaction.
Calypso simply nodded, a look of extreme sorrow marring her normally beautiful face.
Luke returned his attention to the ring, to see thousands of Roman soldiers forming a ring around the congregated Slaves.
Calypso frowned.
"What are they doing in the centre? See them moving away from those two men?"
Luke focused on where Calypso pointed, and noticed the group of slaves and formed their own ring around a very muscular man with golden hair, and another man whose face Luke couldn't see, as it was hidden behind some sorts of hood.
Annabeth exclaimed in shock, and stated loudly
"Look at his arms! He's chained up!"
Atlas, seated next to Octavius, had obviously noticed it as well.
He turned toward his daughter, and Luke saw fury behind his eyes.
But Atlas said nothing; he simply narrowed his eyes at the chained man in the centre.
"They're binding runes!" Annabeth burst
Luke focused on the man harder, using Essence to enhance his vision.
True enough, purple runes adorned the chains binding the man, and not only that, but there were four sets.
He turned back towards the Emperor, and noticed Atlas, eyes still narrowed at the man. A look of deep concentration held the giants gaze.
-0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0-
Perseus, despite the sack blocking his vision, could simply sense his surroundings.
By now he was in the centre of the Arena, surrounded by cheering legions of bastard Romans.
Perseus growled beneath his hood. He was going to die a caged animal. He'd survived the fucking Greek warcamps just to die chained up and laughed at by filthy Romans.
The young man from before tore Perseus from his thoughts.
"Everyone, back away from us. If they see how they chain him, we might get the sympathy of the crowd."
The gruff man from before retorted; "piss off boy. I'm not moving any closer to those Romans."
The young man shot back instantly.
"You think you'll live anyway? Our best chance is for the crowd to spare us."
Murmurs spread through the slaves. Perseus heard several figures shifting away from him. But he could feel some hadn't moved.
Perseus guessed it was those simply too scared to move, or those too stubborn.
The young man continued "If you don't move, I'm going to run you through with this knife myself."
Perseus heard a laugh.
"You think you can take me turd? I'm twice your weight."
"No I don't think I can take you. But I don't care, I'll try dam hard, and either way you'll be weakened for the Romans."
After more back talk between them, the remaining stragglers also shuffled away form Perseus.
"What's your name mate?"
Initially Perseus wasn't going to respond, there was no point. But this man had somewhat helped Perseus, with nobody around in the way, at least he could move his legs freely.
"Perseus."
Silence followed.
"I've heard you call yourself Jari."
Frowning under the hood, Perseus was shocked he knew his true name.
"Who are you?"
He received no answer.
"Are you Perseus or Jari?"
Perseus grimaced.
"Perseus is my Greek name. Aren't you Greek?"
A moment of silence followed.
"No." more silence "No… I'm a Roman."
This surprised Perseus. In all his days in the Arena, not once had he heard of Romans fighting in the Colosseum.
"Fitting name Jari. Like your Tattoo"
Perseus grimaced; this man wasn't the first to mention his tattoo.
"I'm going to take your hood off."
Sight returned to Perseus, and the sight before him was stunning.
The stands of the Colosseum were decorated in enormous banners; some read 'OCTAVIUS' and others 'HAIL CAESAR'.
The stands themselves were packed, there wasn't a seat left to be filled, the patrons were crammed shoulder-to-shoulder, cheering and chanting.
Turning to his newfound comrade, he gasped in shock
"Theseus?!"
The man simply stared at Perseus in confusion
"No, my name is Travis…"
Perseus shook his head, and scowled at himself. The man didn't look at all like Theseus did.
"Shame about those bindings. My Employer couldn't get rid of them."
Perseus looked at Travis in confusion.
Travis simply laughed
"Do I look like a slave to you?"
It was true, besides Perseus himself; no slaves escaped the scrawniness brought on by a lack of proper food.
"You're pretty jovial for someone about to die" Perseus growled
Again Travis laughed.
"I'm going to call you Percy, is that okay? It's easier than Jari, all that strange 'j' pronunciation you Unnamed have."
He spoke so fast. Perseus began to understand why we initially reminded him of Theseus, despite their lack of physical similarities.
"You won't be calling me anything. We'll be dead in a few moments."
Perseus looked out towards the gathering roman soldiers. They outnumbered the Slaves thirty to one.
"I can just fly out of here. You were supposed to come, but the boss will understand, with all those binding chains"
Travis' smile was gone. He looked genuinely sorry for Perseus. Typical Romans, lying right to his face.
Perseus was going to die chained up like a dog, listening to a smug Roman giggle.
-OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO-
Luke gasped.
"That's the Demigod from the last battle!" Excitement bubbled through him.
He turned and absent-mindedly clasped Calypso's arm
"If anyone can get out of this, I'd bet it's him!"
She glanced at his face, then his hand on her arm, then back to his face.
"I hope you're right."
Luke noticed his hand, and quickly withdrew, somewhat embarrassed at his outburst.
"Sorry my Lady, It's just I've seen this man fight before. He is like a demon enraged. They call him the Unnamed!"
At this Calypso returned her attention to the man in the ring.
"Is he actually Unnamed?"
Luke smiled.
"Well he certainly looks and fights the part."
Annabeth piped up
"As stupid as he normally is" She turned to Luke, an amused look upon her face, "He is right. This man certainly knows how to fight. Looks like they've upped his chains though."
Luke nodded, a little upset.
"Not a fair fight like that. Who do you think his Parent is? Strange they had Unnamed children isn't it?"
Calypso simply replied
"Not as strange as you think."
Luke watched her turned face as horns began blowing, signifying the beginning of The Defeat of Hannibal.
Turning back the Chained man, he felt somebody scrying him, and noticed the man staring straight at him.
His expression was ruthless, sending chills down Luke's spine.
-0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0-
Romans began slowly approaching. The space between the two rings closing in.
The gruff man from earlier turned and cursed at Travis.
"Your plan didn't fucking work. No surprise there."
Perseus turned to the man.
He shrank away from Perseus' gaze, but he and the rest of the slaves began gathering around him and Travis again.
Perseus heard a strange fizzle, and felt like an enormous weight was lifted from his shoulders.
Glancing down, he noticed the topmost Rune Chain no longer glowed.
Survive. More will drop.
The voice rang through his skull similarly to that of the last time Perseus fought in this Arena, only it sounded different, as though it was a physical voice in his head.
It sounded as though it came from a direction.
Perseus began glancing around, searching for the origin of the voice.
I won't be able to get them all, It's taking too long.
Perseus followed the voice.
It led him to the Imperial box.
Perseus frowned. Who in the Imperial box would help him, and now of all times.
Focusing his Essence enhanced vision; he peered into the box, searching for the source.
He first made eye contact with the Emperor himself, a regular mortal despite his claims.
His eyes held nothing but bloodlust.
Next Perseus shifted and found a group of young looking Demigods, very out of place for their surroundings. A young man recoiled at Perseus scrying.
Next Perseus noticed an oddity with the two young girls aura.
The air around them didn't shimmer as it did for Demigods. The blonde girl was closest, but it looked, or rather smelt oddly enough, slightly different to the rest, as if she weren't quite the same type of demigod.
The other girl, or Woman Perseus could say, was breath taking.
Simply looking at her reminded Perseus of the tales his father told of Goddesses descending upon warriors to grace them with strong children.
An enormous man seated next to the Emperor tore Perseus' eyes away from the beautiful woman.
His glare was intense, and concentrated.
Perseus felt insignificant in the presence of the man's aura. It was overwhelming, and Perseus' vision retreated to normal levels.
He heard a cry to the side, and watched as a gladius pierced through a man's abdomen, carving his red flesh, blood pulsating from the wound.
Another cry rang out on the opposite side, and a slave fell backward, a pilum lodged deep in his eye socket.
Slaves began screaming as Romans descended on them with blood curdling chants.
Perseus saw a boy no older than fifteen pick up his own severed arm, before a Legionnaire hacked at his chest, punching through the thin cloth he wore.
Blood sprayed through the pack of slaves coating them all in a thick, and slimy red sinew.
Some cowered, curling up on the floor, simply awaiting their fate.
Perseus felt another weight lift from his shoulders as he watched two Roman soldiers stabbing at a downed man merely 12 feet to his left.
He heard Travis call out
"Look Percy, I'm sorry, I really am."
Perseus turned to the boy.
"But I can't help you any more."
He stared around him, the reality of his surrounding finally hitting him. Perseus watched as the panic flooded his mind. Fear spread through him like a cancer, gripping his mind.
He flinched and yelped as he saw a slave only a few feet to the side beheaded.
Perseus noticed Travis' legs starting to shake, and glanced down at his feet.
The ground was cracking beneath him, and Perseus understood what was about to happen.
Glancing around at his impending slaughter, Perseus stared up in wonder as Travis burst upward, 50 feet into the air.
His shimmering aura made it difficult to make out his figure, but Perseus knew he was floating. This was a trained Demigod.
The surrounding romans stared looked up in shock at the floating man, surprised at the Demigod amongst them.
The crowd ceased their screaming, awed at the sight.
In the silence Perseus heard the voice in his head return.
I'm sorry.
Perseus heard defeat in the voice, and looked back toward the enormous man in the Imperial box.
His intense expression was gone.
I cannot lift the third
Perseus looked down at his chains.
Two still glowed, the other two hung limply between his arms.
Perseus looked back up to Travis, Seeing him soar out of the Arena. He paused, and somehow Perseus knew he was looking at him.
Soon the crowd, and the Roman soldiers would return their attention to massacring the remaining slaves.
Perseus thought of sinking to the floor.
He thought of finally giving in to what he'd been told his whole life.
Give up.
Struggle is pointless.
Play that shitty, unfair hand that life dealt you.
Complain.
Tell Thanatos, Hades, and Chaos when you meet them; just how much harder life was for you than it was for those Rich Romans.
Justify giving up.
It's only natural to lose when you're dealt that hand.
Clergy gathered around Perseus' livid soul.
It's okay Perseus. We understand. Giving up is okay, really! Greek life is hard; those Romans have it so easy!
Perseus looked up.
A wretch crouched several paces in front of him.
It's gnarled face twisted in pain.
"Give up for fucks sake. Everything hurts you bastard."
Perseus stared at the creature, petrified.
"What are you?"
It cackled, and unnatural sound coming from such a contorted face.
"I'm Perseus. Who are you?"
Perseus backed up a few paces, recoiling from the figure.
"I'm Perseus. You're… You're a freak."
The disgusting thing continued laughing.
"No. I'm Perseus. Have you seen Jari anywhere? I hope that bastard doesn't come back."
Perseus narrowed his eyes at the thing.
It was toying with him.
"Shut up."
His confidence built, the wretch faltered, halting its cackle.
"I'm not afraid of you." Perseus took a step forward.
The wretch smiled again
"Yes you are." It's eyes widened in twisted pleasure.
Perseus began fuming. His breath quickened.
"We'll see." He began closing on the wretch.
"You're afraid of becoming me." The thing quickly stammered, backing up a few paces.
Perseus halted his approach, but his resolve remained.
"Yes. I did."
He lifted his empty hand, and felt a blade materialize in it.
Closing his palm into a fist, he brought his arm down, ramming the pointed blade deep through the wretches' cheekbone.
It gurgled, spewing thick yellow blood.
It stank as it oozed from the wound, pooling at his feet, the wretches' body crumpling to the floor.
Gazing at the reflective surface of the rank blood, Perseus saw a well-built man with long dark hair and a beard. On his hand was a Tattoo, a symbol of a bladeless sword.
Jari.
Anger shook through Perseus' body, physically rumbling the floor.
The familiar feeling reverberated outwards, causing ripples in the air.
Surrounding Roman soldiers paused their onslaught, to look at the untouched man in the centre of a massacre.
Those who'd witnessed the previous Gladiatorial battle began to yelp and recoil, recognizing the Unnamed man.
Perseus felt his chains begin shaking. He revelled in the feeling.
He pulled at his chains, and the two lifeless ones burst instantly, chain links flying outwards, slamming into raised shields, better prepared than last time.
His blood began bubbling, and he could feel Ichor pumping through his veins.
The last chains still hadn't broken, but Perseus didn't care.
He leapt toward a legionnaire, ramming his enclosed fist forward.
His fist punched through leather and flesh alike, leaving a gaping hole as he pulled his fist out. Lifeless eyes rolled backwards as the man fell.
Without missing a beat, Perseus leapt to the next man, tripping him, before stamping down on his leg.
A sickening crunch sounded as Perseus connected with the man's thigh, flattening bone and muscle into the floor.
Whipping his arm to the side, Perseus used the flailing remainder of the first chain to slam into another soldiers face, slicing through leaving an enormous gash, bubbling out blood as the man collapsed.
Perseus continued spinning between soldier after soldier, tearing flesh and snapping bones.
The third chain had broken; only one remaining, and Perseus paused to look at it.
Concentrating, he ripped his arms outward, snapping the chain in the middle, leaving a cuff on either wrist.
He resumed his outburst, until he approached a man with a noticeable shimmering.
The man confidently stood facing Perseus.
Not wanting a repeat of Perseus' last onslaught, Octavius had of course lined the ranks of Roman soldiers with Demigods.
Perseus concentrated, and tried to lift the man with his mind.
Surprisingly, the man did lift, only of his own accord.
Perseus grasped a fallen Pilum, and launched it at the floating man, attempting to halt his attack.
As soon as the Pilum left Perseus' hand, he felt himself yanked backwards viciously.
Tumbling through the sand, Perseus quickly righted himself, staring down his new opponent.
Five men surrounded him, each shimmering.
Mortal Roman soldiers simply backed away, preying on easier targets, or watching the ensuing battle.
Suicide Perseus thought.
Or, a ticket to the glorious gates.
Brimming with energy, he launched himself towards the closest man, tackling him by the waist.
They both fell to the ground, Perseus slamming a barrage of punches.
The man returned some fire, but was for the most part overwhelmed.
They continued their floor bound brawl for a few moments, rolling around as they did so. He felt a hand claw at his eyes, attempting to gouge them, So Perseus grasped the mans ear and ripped as hard as he could. Hearing a yelp of pain, he kicked the man away, before he was again yanked away.
Using the momentum, Perseus rolled to his feet and jumped at the next man, slamming his fist into the throat of a face only a year or two his senior.
The man instantly fell, windpipe crushed from the force.
Perseus grabbed the fallen corpse with his mind, and flung it towards another man, distracting him as he launched at his next opponent.
He slammed his foot down on the mans knee, snapping it backwards. The man screamed and grabbed it as he started to slump backwards, but before he hit the floor Perseus slammed his fist into the temple, felling the man instantly. He turned to face his next opponent, but was instantly flung backwards by sudden lighting bursting form the outstretched hand of a young man with short blonde hair.
Writhing on the floor, Perseus struggled to get up, urging himself to rise.
He was suddenly battered in the face; his nose cracking as golden blood began bursting through.
He saw the man whose ear he'd torn off stand.
"Little fucker" he screamed
The man unslung a bow from his back and loosed an arrow that slammed into Perseus' back, severing his spinal connection.
Perseus roared in pain, but moments later his entire body simply went numb.
He saw as two men hovered over him, and watched as they began beating his nearly lifeless body.
The lighting man, the youngest of the group simply watched with a look of disgust on his face.
Perseus didn't feel the feet kicking his sides, nor the dagger that the earless man slowly rammed in and out of his stomach.
He just watched, vision slowly fading.
Mere moments before his vision went completely white, the beating stopped. For a while Perseus simply saw blue sky, and a hot yellow sun.
He glanced at the yellow blob, before murmuring
"Hello."
He chuckled at his own strangeness, a feeling of Euphoria spreading over him.
Suddenly the sun was gone, replaced by a silhouette.
His ears, filled with drying blood could barely make out the noise coming from the silhouette.
"He's coming with me."