Solo Player (A Percy Jackson AU)

Chapter Nine

When Percy's life flashed before his eyes he saw basically two things. The first was a montage of his virtual life as Riptide. A series of him debating his first couple of names (PJackson576, WaterSlicer, Persassy) before acquiring his amazing sword that lead him to his fame. Countless battles all by himself, doing the impossible, being the impossible. Everything, all in short millisecond flashes that wouldn't make sense to any other living being.

The second thing was more surprising. Percy had always figured that it would be something like Tyson, or Grover, or his mom, but for some reason that didn't make sense at all...it wasn't. It was the brief interactions with -Chasing-.

Her stony face, a mask of her cunningness. Her grey eyes sparkling from her real face. Her real grey eyes that were so full of life that Percy knew they couldn't just be coded into an avatar. Her blonde curls that looked stupendous on her, even better than her brown hair. The distinct smell of...her. Percy couldn't figure out what it really was, a mix of musty books, some type of perfume, and flowers. In his short montage she was annoyed and scared, the only real emotions he'd seen on her ever. Damn, he was going to die without ever seeing her smile.

"Riptide!" The boy called, Leo, yelled. From the corner of Percy's eyes he could see the shorter boy shaking. He looked like how Percy's insides felt: twisted and warped with fear. He probably would've melted into a puddle if he were able. xClassicx's bar was in the dark red, grow littler every second. A curl of her cinnamon hair fell in front on her face.

Seeing them, like that filled Percy with an obtuse feeling. Something far beyond his comprehension. It burned through his limbs, a pulsing in his mind, a sudden flush of energy that was abnormal. But his Health bar was the same. It wasn't like someone had used a power up or spell on him.

Whatever it was it steadied his trembling hands. Riptide glowed in the darkness, the bronze light giving Percy the courage to grin. He bounced on his feet, cocking his head to the side.

"Well," Percy said shocked at his own calmness. He felt like a different person. Was that strange? Is this what happens to people right before they get murdered?

"What are you waiting for?" Percy asked Kronos.

The virtual assassin moved like the shadows, very subtly but Percy didn't miss a inch of it. The masked man turn his head to the side, "It's customary to give my victims time to pray to their god."

Percy snorted, "Where was that rule earlier?"

His laugh echoed off the empty buildings. It was colder than the game generated breeze. Leo shuddered.

"Caught my bluff," the man joked, though all the humor was lost on the other boys. Percy was moving before Kronos, although it was only by a blink of time. Percy sliced at him, catching only the wind. Kronos skidded on the pavement pulling a long silver sword from space. The blade was clean and shining but Percy barely noticed.

Kronos brought it down on him, causing him to block. Riptide moved as an extension of his own arm. The clash sent a shower of sparks up between them. Behind the gold mask Percy could see the cold blue eyes smiling.

Kronos pushed his blade down with strength far beyond any normal human being. Percy let him slide down swords with a screech that was sure to bring the zombies running. Kronos laughed and flung his foot into Percy's stomach.

"Riptide!" Leo screamed for him.

Percy the ground, hard. He rolled away as Kronos moved to finish the job he started hours ago. The sound of metal on asphalt was louder than anything Percy had ever heard.

He dashed back at the assassin, wielding his beloved blade like he'd been using it his entire life. The air was raucous with the sound of their weapons colliding. It seemed that every move Percy made Kronos already had known. Kronos batted of his swing and sliced the air of Percy's shoulder faster than light.