AN: If you're reading this during the day of it being published, I've decided to release both chapters (this and the final) today because they're both rather short so treat is as one big chapter.
And also before we get started, just wanted to address a question about how Percy couldn't deal with much alcohol in ch.1 despite being demigod. This was a question I had too, and assuming the reviewer has read to this point I've got an answer for that; it makes sense when you realise its a bar full of gods, and he's competing Ares so firstly Percy is obviously not going to outdrink him but the alcohol being served is actually something made for the gods specifically so its not normal alcohol.
But question aside, enjoy this rather short finale!
It took Percy a minute to realise he had already arrived at the shrine as just like his transition had been, everything around him was a brilliant white, almost as if it had no colour at all. He could just barely make out the propylaeum, an ancient Greek entrance, right in front of him, to which he started walking towards. However, Percy noticed that he wasn't empty handed. An envelope was in his hand, and as he read the front, he realised this was the note that Poseidon had left him in the mines, and that along with the prismatic shard, Percy had never actually retrieved it. Athena must've given it to him right before she sacrificed herself.
As he moved forward, the brightness around him began to subside slightly, revealing a long corridor lined with intricate carvings and frescoes. Each panel depicted major events throughout history—both mortal and divine. Percy paused, captivated by the artistry and significance of the images. There were scenes of creation, legendary battles, the rise and fall of empires, and crucial moments in the lives of gods and heroes. The final panels seemed to illustrate recent events, battles he recognized, and the friends he had lost.
The first panel depicted Him, Grover and Annabeth standing triumphant, his own hand clutching the Master Bolt at Mount Olympus. Moving forward, another scene unfolded—the battle against Kronos, where Percy had given the blade to Luke who had sacrificed himself. Next, a mural depicted their harrowing battle against Gaea, the Earth Mother herself. A sombre panel followed, depicting the Battle of Camp Half-Blood. Percy saw himself leading the charge, rallying demigods against relentless waves of monsters. Yet, amidst the chaos, there were moments of loss—friends who fell bravely in battle, their faces immortalised in the mural.
His steps faltered as he spotted a scene within the mural—a haunting depiction that gripped Percy's heart with ice. Annabeth lay motionless on the ground, her usually vibrant eyes closed, her golden hair splayed around. Above her, Khaos loomed with a malevolent presence, her dark aura casting shadows over Annabeth's still form. Percy stood beside her, his expression twisted in anguish and despair, his hands reaching out futilely as if to shield her from harm. The artist had captured the scene with such detail that Percy could almost hear his own screams echoing through the mural. Tears welled up in his eyes as he traced the lines of Annabeth's face, the pain of loss washing over him anew.
As he moved on, a new mural caught Percy's eye—one that took place in the mines and depicted Poseidon, his father, falling victim to a Wendigo's brutal attack. The creature's savage claws pierced through Poseidon's neck. The pain of losing his father weighed heavily on Percy's heart as he stared at the haunting image. Lastly, a stark representation of the recent battle at the mines. Here, the mural froze the moment Aphrodite leaped between Percy and Khaos, her expression resolute as Khaos's blade struck her midsection.
The emotions welled up inside Percy, threatening to overwhelm him. He clenched his fists. Each mural was a painful reminder of the losses he had suffered, each image a testament to how far Percy could go before he would break down, before he would give up himself. But amidst the sorrow, a steely resolve took place in Percy's heart. He knew that he had to honour their memories, to ensure that none of their sacrifices were in vain. This was the reason he kept going, to make sure their souls could rest in peace.
With a heavy heart, Percy tore his gaze away from the murals and continued towards the corridor. His steps were heavy, each footfall echoing with the weight of his emotions. The prismatic shard in his hand seemed to grow warmer, as if urging him forward, reminding him of the hope that still flickered amidst the darkness.
When he finally arrived in the main room, Percy was struck by its profound ancient simplicity. The chamber was circular, its walls adorned with intricate carvings depicting the cycle of fate and the primordial forces that governed the universe. The air was thick with a sense of ancient power, as if the very essence of destiny permeated the stone walls. At the centre of the chamber stood the shrine of Ananke itself—a marble pedestal bathed in a soft, ethereal glow. Upon it rested a shallow basin filled with shimmering, iridescent waters that seemed to reflect the entirety of existence within their depths. That must be where he was supposed to place the prismatic shard.
However, that was when he noticed a figure in the corner of the room. Ares.
How? Percy had assumed he had faded along with the other gods, but somehow he was up here, in the shrine of Ananke with him. But that was impossible. You had to kill an immortal to get up here, unless—
"You–you killed Hestia?" Percy shouted angrily, not believing that the God of War was standing in front of him. But as he recalled fragments of memories, he realised that it was obvious this entire time.
Haley sniffed, wiping her bloodshot eyes. "It's Alex. I-I love him, I really do, but he keeps seeing other girls! Like, right after you left, a notification popped up from his phone, and it was from this random girl called 'Chee'?
It wasn't all perfect though, as despite Haley's initial words at the bar and Percy's warnings, she still was with that dick Alex. He couldn't understand why, since it wasn't like their relationship had improved, Haley catching him contacting the mysterious 'Chee' once again.
Haley's fists clenched at her sides, her voice rising. "Maybe that's because I can't stand to be around someone who constantly belittles and controls me, keeping me as as a trophy wife while you fuck your sidechick 'Chee' and so I'm forced to take my anger out on others!"
"Qi is an alias! She's K-" Poseidon never managed to finish his sentence before he was rammed into the ground by one of the deer-hybrids.
"Aphrodite told me you were talking to a girl called Chee, but that was actually Khaos, wasn't it?" Percy glared accusingly at Ares, to which he just laughed.
"You know, you were always Hestia's weak spot. At the bar, on the first night I wasn't actually flirting with her. I mean, she's my aunt for god's sake and I'm not into that type of stuff. But I was blackmailing her, saying that I would kill you immediately unless she agreed to swear on the styx to give her soul to me when the time came. So, here I am" Ares grinned, bringing his longsword up in triumph.
Percy's grip tightened on the prismatic shard, his eyes narrowing. "You're disgusting."
Ares simply shrugged. "Enough chit chat. Give me the prismatic shard."
"No," Percy responded firmly, his stance unwavering.
Ares sighed dramatically. "I didn't want to do this the hard way, but you leave me no choice."
With that, he lunged at Percy, his longsword slicing through the air with lethal intent.
Percy parried his slash, before he himself surged forward, Riptide clashing against Ares' longsword with a resounding clang. The shrine's ethereal glow illuminated their fierce battle, casting shifting shadows on the walls adorned with the cycle of fate. Sparks flew as their weapons met again and again, each strike more powerful than the last.
This time, unlike the time at Aphrodite's house, he knew he would win. He was faster, more precise, and most of all he had a reason to fight. His movements were fueled by a burning desire to avenge the fallen. Ares, on the other hand, seemed increasingly desperate, his arrogance giving way to frustration. Percy's relentless assault pushed the god of war back, step by step, until Ares stumbled and fell to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Percy stood over Ares, Riptide poised to deliver the final blow. But before he could strike, Ares' eyes turned pitch black, an unnatural darkness consuming them. A cold, sinister laugh echoed through the chamber as Khaos possessed Ares' body.
"Foolish boy," Khaos hissed, her voice a chilling mix of Ares and her own. "You think you can defeat me?"
With a flick of her hand, Khaos unleashed a powerful blast of energy. Percy was thrown across the room, crashing into the marble pedestal that held the shrine of Ananke. Pain shot through his body as he struggled to get back on his feet, his vision swimming. To his surprise, the marble he had crashed into didn't even have a dent, proving this room's indestructibility.
Khaos, now fully in control of Ares' form, advanced towards Percy, her eyes glowing with malevolent delight. "You didn't think you could escape me that easily, did you?" she sneered, her power radiating through the chamber. Percy gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stand despite the searing pain and charged towards Khaos.
Percy put up a valiant effort, dodging and parrying Khaos's relentless attacks. His determination and desperation fueled his movements, but now that Percy was alone without the assistance of Zeus of Athena, it was like the battle at Camp Half-Blood all over again. With a swift move, she lunged at him, her blade penetrating through his knee, ensuring he would never be able to stand again. Percy cried out in pain, collapsing onto his back in front of the shrine, his vision blurring from the agony.
Khaos stood over him, her expression a mask of cruel triumph. "It's over, Percy Jackson," she taunted, raising her sword to deliver the final blow.
Percy shot Khaos with multiple blasts of energy as she approached, but she easily deflected all of them, not in a hurry knowing Percy couldn't even stand. With his strength waning and his options limited, Percy's eyes darted towards the shrine behind him.
In a split second decision, he used all his remaining stamina to shoot a beam of energy towards the shrine before quickly ducking. The beam ricocheted off the marble surface, reflecting back with blinding intensity right above his head.
The unexpected move caught Khaos off guard. The beam struck her squarely in the chest, sending her sprawling backward, her grip on Ares' sword faltering. Percy seized the moment. Despite the pain searing through his body, he crawled towards the shrine, clutching the prismatic shard tightly in his hand.
As he reached the pedestal, he placed the shard into the shimmering basin. The water began to glow brighter, pulsing with an ancient power. Percy closed his eyes, his heart pounding as he prayed with every ounce of his being.
"Ananke, hear my plea. I offer this prismatic shard in exchange for the death of Khaos. End her reign of destruction and restore balance."
The chamber seemed to hold its breath. The glowing waters surged with energy, and a wave of light erupted from the basin, enveloping Percy in its warmth. The light expanded, filling the entire room, and Percy felt an immense, powerful force radiating from the shrine.
Khaos, regaining her footing, stared in horror as the light engulfed her. She screamed, a sound filled with fury and fear, as the energy from the prismatic shard bore down on her, unravelling her very essence. Her form flickered and twisted, and with a final, agonising cry, Khaos began to disintegrate into nothingness, her existence being erased by the power of Ananke.
After all, nothing was above fate itself.
Percy watched in awe and relief as Khaos vanished, the malevolent presence that had caused so much pain and suffering finally gone. The light slowly faded, leaving the chamber in a serene, almost peaceful silence. Percy collapsed onto the ground, utterly spent, but a sense of profound peace washed over him. Khaos was finally gone. He had avenged the fallen.