This is inspired by the Shikai of Bleach.
This is also an experiment for me, writing in the first person.
Note, there will be swearing.
I Learn the Name of my Blade.
Empire State Building-
Well, today is the last day. We have been pushed back to the lobby of the Empire State Building. The place is littered on every floor with wounded Demigods, Hunters, Satyrs and our other allies. Nobody, besides yours truly, was uninjured. We were all fatigued; we were running low on Ambrosia and Nectar. The Gods were losing against the Giant Typhon, and my father, Poseidon was stuck in his own war beneath the seas. Simply put, we were losing. Unless…
A year and a half ago, before we fought Atlas, the Hesperid-turned-Hunter, Zoë Nightshade told me that she had imbued Riptide with the power of the currents, I just had to call upon it, and its power would boost my own. If I can find out how to call that power, I might be able to tip the scales…
ΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩΑΩ
As the sun set, Kronos began what would be his final assault. His army seemed to be even bigger than before. Thalia and Grover had set up a cover fire from the 1st and 2nd floors of the building. I was going to lead the ground defence. I clicked my pen, calling Riptide to my hand. A Part of my brain - which really should've been on the battle - picked up a slight glow from the blade, that certainly was not there this morning. Huh, looks like she's ready. I focus on the army ahead of me.
Kronos was leading the charge, wearing Luke's body like a cheap suit. Really cheap. Like a discount sale at the local second-hand store. I stepped up to the plate and pointed my sword directly at him. Annabeth is going to kill me for this. Assuming Kronos doesn't beat her to it.
"Kronos, Titan Lord of Time, I challenge you to a duel. Winner claims Olympus!"
The Titan actually looked taken back by my challenge. His gold eyes widened then narrowed. Then he smirked.
"Fine, boy! I look forward to tearing the home of the gods from its foundations! Let us begin this, as the old ways state!
"I am Kronos, Titan Lord of Time, Son of Uranus, The Primordial of the Skies. I slew my father and claimed his throne in times before Man. I wield the twin core Scythe, forged of Celestial Bronze and Mortal Steel and quenched in the blood of clear-sighted mortals."
I nodded at the Timelord, and, honestly, I felt more than a little intimidated. This was a Titan. Well, guess the only thing to do is to go in balls and all.
"I am Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon. I killed the Minotaur with my bare hands and have travelled through the Underworld. I have the respect of Artemis and have defeated the Titans Atlas and Hyperion. I have bathed in the River Styx, and wield a sword of Heracles, Riptide!"
Kronos, as I finished my boast, swung his scythe in a wide arc, the resulting wave of energy blowing back all of the non-combatants, monsters and heroes alike. I dashed forward; Riptide held low in my right hand. My left hand clenched, hopefully unnoticed. I felt the water pipes around me respond. Time to reclaim my title as Supreme Lord of the Bathroom.
I ducked The Titan's first swipe and slashed at his knee.
Now, the thing about the Curse of Achilles is it does not make you invincible. It simply makes your skin impenetrable, except in your one mortal spot, and your muscles and bones denser, and more resilient. You can still bruise; you can still tire. Enough force will snap your bones. It just takes a lot more than normal.
The first few minutes of the fight, we didn't intend to do serious damage to each other. We were just feeling out each other's style, and any weaknesses. Intentional, or not, I took advantage of an opening in Kronos' guard. I knocked the scythe skyward and launched a Spartan kick at his gut. He took a full step back.
I jumped backwards, flipped the blade to a reverse grip, and slammed the point into the ground.
"Pull back the seas and reclaim the shore, Anaklusmos!"
What happened next caused a variety of responses:
Kronos stepped back another whole pace.
His army began to back up really quickly.
What remained of the demigod army let out gasps of shock.
Annabeth in particular was shouting at me, asking what I was doing.
Off to one side, I heard Thalia mutter something along the lines of 'ducking show-off' -Hypocrite.
In my hand, Riptide released a pulse that cracked the ground, rippling out a good 10 yards from me. Then she changed. The handgrip lengthened, pushing the 3-foot blade deeper into the ground. The blade then split into 3, 2 parts sliding out along the crossguard, which also grew. I pulled my transformed weapon out of the ground and took in her new form. For the past four years, I had been wielding a 3-foot traditional Xiphos, the shape and balance as good as a sword could get for me. Now the 5-and-a-half-foot trident I held felt perfect; as if it were made for me.
The shockwave, and my own powers, had ruptured every water pipe within a four-block radius. And I could feel all of it. Every drop of water in Manhattan was resonating with my heartbeat. The water that had been thrown into the air gravitated towards me, and Kronos. It began to spin around us, creating a hurricane that twisted around us, guaranteeing that our fight would not be disturbed.
Kronos looked stunned at my transformation. Then He smirked.
"If that little show is all that you've got, little hero, then I have already won this war."
He charged forward, physically throwing himself into battle for the first time. His Scythe swung across, aiming to bisect me. If I still had a sword, I would have been forced to dodge the blow, opening myself up to a second attack.
But now, I held a trident.
With both hands on the staff, I slammed the weapon over Kronos'. The three prongs slipped over the blade and staff, pinning it to the ground. Tremors radiated from where Anaklusmos struck the ground.
"I forgot two things in my boasts, Oh-Lord-Of-Time. I am the son of the Earthshaker, and I wield the spirit bound weapon, Anaklusmos!"
'Quickly, Perseus. Finish it while you can!'
Using the staff as a support, I launched an explosive two-leg kick at the Titan's chest. His armour shattered, and he was blown backwards, leaving Backbiter with me. Kronos caught himself just before he reached my hurricane.
"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE! A mere… child… should not be able to hurt me!"
Now I know what you're going to say – Don't rise to the bait, don't let mere words provoke you. My response to you is this – I am a teenage demigod, a teenage Greek demigod. I will respond as I want.
"Up yours, old man!" Yeah, not my best comeback.
'Remember what I said, Perseus. Kronos will gain more power as the fight continues. Time is his Authority.'
I mentally nodded.
Kronos reached out, calling the Scythe to His hand. Gilded sand began to gather and run along His arms.
Shit
I grasped the shaft of Anaklusmos and began spinning her. Water pulled from the hurricane clung to the tips. I let the water trickle and flow along my body as the Titan King charged at me.
You ready?
'Yes, Perseus, but I cannot hold for long.'
Let's do this!
Borrowing momentum from the storm, I back wheeled, planting my foot and spinning low.
The Trident's tips launched forward, my hand barely grasping the end of the shaft.
Backbiter dropped low, deflecting the blow away from His knee.
I followed my weapon; my body pulled by a force not fully my own. With the Trident's spinning I became a whirling dervish, the tines seeking Luke's vitals with slashes and thrusts, each deflected or stopping short on impervious skin.
I caught the glint of Golden eyes through the haze, and my motions began to lag. My Storm held, but every motion seemed to be at half speed.
'Perseus, please! We do not have long!'
I'm trying here, ok!
In a parody of my earlier move, Kronos smashed my weapon skyward and kicked me in the chest.
I stumbled backwards, catching myself on my knees. Anaklusmos clattered to the floor at my side, shrinking back into her sword form. I reached for the handle.
Kronos swung Backbiter over His shoulder as he walked over to me.
"You have my respect, Jackson, but this is over now. You have lost."
Bringing His scythe up high, He prepared to bring the Celestial Bronze blade down on me.
My hand closed around Riptide's handle as the scythe struck my shoulder. I felt my collarbone crack under the force.
"ANAKLUSMOS"
My weapon extended once more, the tines driving into Luke's side: The centre point had pierced deep into his armpit.
His left eye flickered, changing from gold to blue.
"heh… Percy…"
Blood trickled from his mouth, golden Ichor mixing with red as it splattered across my trident and the ground. I fell backwards, energy spent. Anaklusmos shrunk down, first to her sword form, then to a pen.
"Thank… you.., Percy-Ņ̷̡̛̻̟̟̱̣̥̗̭̖̫̱͚̩͉̬̬͔͗̽̓̔̇̄̇̑͒͋̍̂̌̄̄͝͠Ò̷̧͓̖̥̠̱͈̦̺̫̫͉̗̪͇̜̹̥̯̀̆͆͂͂̀̎̽͑͘̕ͅͅ!"
His eyes flickered between blue and gold.
"I̸̧̨̨͉̜͚̞͔̤̦̖̭̎̈́̌͗͌̉͆̏͂͘ ̷̞̠̦̱̄͆̓̍̓̓̿̽͝͠w̸͔̲̮̮͉̆͆̑͝i̸͈̜̠̠̘̩̪̞̖̪̮̯͈̅͜͜͜ͅl̷̡̨̫͍̘̲͍̥͉͉̱̮͓͇͑̿͌̈́͜ḷ̴̛̩͓̻͕͔̼͖͈̣͎̖͚̺̎̐̀̏́̋̋͂͛͝͝ ̴̧̨͈̤̻̜͇̹̥͋̉̊ ̷̨̗̝̯͂̃̽̄͒͝ņ̵̬̮̜̳̃̀̂̏̇̌̌̕͝͝o̶̱̫̼͈̼̣̎̉̈́͜t̸̨̡͎͉̱̦͚̪͖͉̜̲̺̪̠̓̈́̎̄͂͆̕͘͝͝ ̴̛̯̘̏͗̔̑͋̋̓̔͒̍̅̐̎͠b̸̨̨͍̘̩̭͚͚̫͚̂̅̀̍̏̆̋̊̈́͆̔́͑̌͗ͅë̷̥̪̰̗̭̙͔̼͎́̐̿̍̚ ̷͚̬̤͍͉̝̠̼͍̱̬̦̓̏͌̀͝͝ḍ̸̢͍̺̯̰͕͔̪̦̰͇̍͑ͅe̷͚͉̗̮̭̱̗̤̞̮̊̐̽͜f̷̨̥͙̱͖͓̼̦̱͍̗̣̪͍́̔̇̓̀̆̌̏̇̍̾͑͗̍̐̕ĕ̵̛͎̩̝͔̣̤̘̦͍̺̘̦͕̬͔͊́́̾͐̄͑̍̊͘͘͝͝a̶͕͎̙̞̯͉̝̘̥̝̥̪̻͇̜̋̔͐͂̄͌̒̓̓̚͘̚͠͝t̷̝̃͛̎͒̕ẹ̵̡̛̰͚̫̳͙͍͙͖͇̰͓͙͉̅̉̀̍̽͛̓͛̂͆́̔̌̕̕͜ͅd̴̛͙̦̠̐͗̈́̓̓̍̈̍̓͂̀͒̂ ̴̧̦̽́̉̈́͂͆̅͐̓̐̑͛̀̓̎̐͠b̴̢̨͙͍̙͕͍̥̩̙̯͈̰͉̱̔̌̓͑̂̏͌̈́̅̅̕̚y̸̢̢̮̭̠͎͉͖͉̲̯̯͎̐̃̾͌̏̏́͗͘͝ͅ ̸̢̰̮͉̤͉̗̫̯̙̲̠̝̝̲̣̀̕y̶̧̺̜̺͈͓͚̟̳̘̬̟̪̓̏̅̅̍́̿̄̂ǫ̶͓̬͙͇̹̝͎͎̘̳͍͍̂̐́͆̀͂̊̅͠ͅͅū̶̡̢̗͉̖̙̪̬͇̠̪̠͙̞͓̹̆̍͛͝ͅ!̴̢̨̢͖̝̪̜̲̓͗̆͋̿͊̑͛̍̍̉̑̌̓̓̕͜ It's too late Kronos!"
As his right arm lifted the scythe to his chest, golden sand wrapped around the same arm, trying to hold it.
"No more, Kronos; no more unneeded death! Y̶̛̠̱̻̞͂͘͘̚ͅo̷̧͇̪͓͍͕̥̟̙̼͎̜̺̲̓̓͌͗̋̒u̴̱̺̼̭͕̱̇̅̆̇͗̅̒ͅ ̸̠̭̀́͑̈̓̃̅̓̈́̅̕͝ͅw̴̡̧̢͉̮̦̭̤̬̫̜̌͌͌͑̎̈́͐̀̑̂͛͋̔̆̕į̷̫͎̱̉̊̑̃̽͌̄̑͒̾̕ľ̸̟̬̘l̷̡͎͎̖̼̟͕͖̟̻̒̽̓̾̅͝ ̷̢͚͓̙͇͖̖̳̬͙̱̮̮̤̫̈̃̿̒͑̎̊͆̅̓̑̓̅̈́͌͌͝o̵̥̱͕̫̪͆̌̂̔̈́͐̅̽̂̎b̵̛̦͈̈́̂̊̐̓̇̈́̏̔̌͂̽̉ȩ̸͔̭̩̮̗̮̫̠̍͒̂͐͒̐̃̀̚̕͝ỵ̷̨̡̡͖͓̪̠͍̦̦̗̒̀͛͛͗̈́̈͗͋̌̕ ̵̤̻͙͂̃̋́̏̅̑̈́͆m̴̡̹̭̯͚͙̝̤̫̳̫̌̄̌̿̈́͋̇̆͑͆͑̚͠͠é̸̤̭͇̈͒̽̿͜,̶̢̛̘̩͓͔͖̟̎͊͊̄̈́͆͐́͊̃́̑́̀̚̚͜ͅ ̴̝̣̜͙̦̳̊̄̌̾͒̆̽̃̉̓̆̕Ľ̸̡̟̞̳̝̦̟̌̑͊̓̇̋̈́̔͝u̶̡̹̠̺̯̯̣̲͇͈͔̗͍͖͋̇̓̈́̄́͑͂̒̒̆̈͘̕͝k̸͖̙̫̪̹̤͓̓̊͌͐͒̾̍̈́̍̀̌̑͂̀̈̕ͅe̵͙̻͙̲͔͓̱̙̓́̂̈́͆̎̇ͅͅ ̴͚̓̀̔̍̉̂C̸̢̦̱͖͎̝̖͓̻͈̓̀̓̆̂́̏̾̓͋́ͅͅà̷̬͍̙̞̱̼̝̋̋̃̄͐̓́l̵͖̝͙̬̹͔̤̹͕̤̗̪͇̈ͅl̸̡̛̯̩̭͔͎̲̥̙̬͆̃͋͗̀͝ͅȩ̷̧̯̜̭͓̠̪̰̜̌͋̓̂͆͐̐͝s̴̬͒͝t̵̩̱̜̣̤̅͛́̏̈́̿͊͘̕͝͝͝͠͝i̸͈̝͙͇͎͊̒̓̓̈́̋̑a̶͇͉̥̤̘͖̲̳̒̒̉̐̉̀̍̐͑͝ͅn̴̢̘͙̺̯̦̝̬̫̳̤̖͍̼̮̯͋̈́̀̔̐͑̅̈́͌̽̈́̕!̴̧̭̙̣̯̱̩̼̘͔͍͓̦͉͉͉̿̆͐̂̑̅̐̍̎̐̆͝
The fused steel tip on the scythe rested against the hole I had gorged in Luke's body just moments earlier.
"Hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap. If I am the price to stop you, Kronos, I pay it gladly."
Luke - and it was certainly Luke in control now - pulled his arm back, the scythe blade digging into his side.
A clock somewhere in the city chimed. 12 rings: midnight.
'Well done, Perseus. The battle is won.'
Did you know what Luke would do?
'No. I only have knowledge of three heroes, and Luke Castellan is not one of them.'
But you suspected.
'Indeed. Do not doubt, the son of Hermes was a hero. Now, it is time for you to rest. The others will take care of the balance of Kronos' army.'
So this will be a collection of one- and two- shots in Rick Riordan's world. Some (like this one) will be AUs, some will be full-on crossovers.
"I Learn the Name of my Sword" is inspired by the "Shikai" ability in Bleach. I have an idea based on "Bankai" set in SoN, but it's not written yet. Anaklusmos is NOT Zoë Nightshade, however as Zoë created the weapon, the sword spirit is based on her. Parallels to Kaien Shiba and Nejibane are fully intended, such as they are. Messy back hair, green/blue eyes, smart significant other, hasn't got the patience for formalities, water-based powers…
The next chapter will be "I am crowned a Prince of Atlantis". I hope to post it in the next two to three weeks.
WRT CG: TAoW:- I am working on the next chapter, "The Silent Mutiny".
WRT SHMC:- I am working on the next three chapters (They are set to happen at the same time).
WRT my writing schedule: I, unfortunately, got Covid last week, and despite having a bunch of free time, I haven't had the mental energy to do much writing. This piece has been 'almost finished' for a while, and I pretty much forced myself to finish it today.
Stay safe guys, girls and all in-between and sundry
Read, Enjoy and Review,
EoE