-Chapter Thirteen-

Percy landed on the ground with a thud, his two feet planting themselves onto the soil. The energy that he just acquired immediately vanished, returning him to his tired and fatigued state.

He dusted his shirt and looked around with a confused glance as he tried to make sense of his surroundings. He sighed and turned to Yorath, expecting a response.

"No idea," Yorath admitted with a shrug.

They were surrounded by stone walls that were relatively simple in design. Along the walls were torches that lit the area they were in. The only thing they could make out was that they were in a corridor. The sky was nowhere to be seen because of a stone roof blocking the sky. They didn't know if they were above or below ground.

"Hey! What are you doing!" A voice shouted, catching the two brothers by surprise. The two turned, seeing multiple guards with spears and swords. Behind them were multiple bowmen, ready to let go of their bowstring and let the arrows fly. The two shared a look as if discussing their options.

"Don't move, lest you want to die right here, right now." The guard warned, approaching the two with his sword out.

"Do you think we can take them?" Yorath whispered, looking at Percy.

"Probably," Percy replied. As soon as the words left his mouth, more bowmen popped out of the corridor. They saw the situation and immediately readied their bows just in case.

"Scratch that. Too many bows pointed at us." Percy mused, assessing their opponents.

"Our best bet is to probably slow down time." He whispered to Yorath.

"About that. I have no energy left. Depleted it on our fight with the gods." Yorath whispered back. Percy almost choked on air, looking at Yorath with wide eyes.

"Oh, we're screwed."

"Hey what are you two whispering on about?!" The guard shouted, readying his sword just in case the two tried anything. Multiple guards went behind the two brothers and handcuffed metal chains to their hands, preventing them from fighting back. The two struggled against the chains, trying to break free. But the sight of multiple arrowheads aimed at them was enough for the two to stop making any sudden moves.

"Send them to the cells. We could use more contestants." The guard commanded. Multiple guards dragged the two brothers across the hallway, as some of the guards dispersed leaving the two brothers with only a few guards.

There was only a handful of them remaining. He figured they could take them quite easily. He initially tried to break out of the chains, yet found he could not do so.

A confused glance was etched across Percy's face as he tried to break free from the chains. He tried again but to no avail. The chains were there to stay. He turned towards Yorath, trying to catch his attention. Yet each whisper would make the bowmen clutch their bows tighter, sending Percy a message. He cursed silently as the two were dragged across the hallway.

The two were dragged rather forcefully, as the guards split the two up. Percy could do nothing but watch as Yorath was dragged away from him into Chaos knows what.

He didn't have time to ponder it much as he was yet again dragged to a room where multiple cells were lined in an orderly fashion. He didn't even know what to think of any of this. The cell doors were opened as the guards threw him into the cell in a rather forceful way.

Percy groaned, lying face-first onto the dirt. His body was an aching mess. He was sore and fatigued. He didn't even know how much time he had left before he would eventually succumb to the strain. He stood up groggily, his eyes adjusting to the new environment. The cell wasn't anything special, it was just like normal dungeon cells.

Percy shook his head, and looked around, trying to formulate a plan and make sense of what was happening. The walls were made out of stone with no windows or anything of the sort. At the front of the cell was a metal door coupled with metal bars that prevented most escape plans.

The cuffs were still attached to his wrists, preventing him from grabbing Firestorm. Even if the cuffs weren't there, he wouldn't risk trying to break free. He didn't know what was awaiting him even if he did. He didn't know if the world outside was dangerous or not. He didn't even have a clue what monsters or creatures lurked outside. And in addition to that, he also had to worry about Yorath.

His mind went into panic mode, remembering what happened to his brother. He had no idea where he was or where the guards brought him. He couldn't escape without him.

He cursed, trying to break free of his cuffs. Yet the cuffs remained attached, leaving Percy stumped on what to do. He had no energy to use his powers. Any use of his powers would result in him being a lifeless potato.

He was at an impasse. He didn't know what to do. He could simply wait it out and drink the vial and dimension hop. Yet that would mean he would leave behind Yorath. He wanted to live that's for sure, but leaving behind Yorath was not a sacrifice he was willing to make, no matter if it was the difference between life and death.

He couldn't exactly stay here for long either. He was at a timer. He couldn't stay here forever. He would simply die if he took too much time. He had to find Yorath in a relatively short amount of time and fast.

His heart was beating rather fast, as panic started to spread through him. Anxiety and fear gripping onto him and clinging on for dear life. He didn't even know where he was, much less where Yorath is located.

Percy steeled his nerves, trying to calm himself down. Panicking wouldn't get him anywhere. He needed a clear mind and a plan. Though the former was harder to achieve than the latter.

He groaned and shook his head, ridding himself of the daze that plagued him. Now was not the time to be a crybaby. He had to think of something, and fast. 

Percy jumped up in surprise as a voice shook him from his stupor.

"Hey kid, you alright?" The voice asked. He looked around, trying to find the origin of the voice. His searching bore no fruit as the origin of the voice was left to mystery.

"Where are you?" Percy asked, looking around in confusion.

"I'm at the cell next to you." The voice replied. The voice was definitely male. There was no mistaking it.

"But onto my first question, you alright? Those guards were pretty rough on you," he added.

"I'm relatively fine. The fall was quite rough though." Percy answered, trying to stretch his limbs.

"Good. You'll need all the strength you can muster." The voice stated. Percy raised an eyebrow, curious as to what the person meant. The voice itself seemed to belong to what he assumed was an older man. It seemed as though it came from someone around mid to late twenties.

"How so?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow even though the person couldn't exactly see him.

"Do you seriously have no idea?" He responded in an almost exasperated tone.

"No clue, honestly." Percy chimed in. Any information on his whereabouts would prove to be essential. The voice let out an audible sigh.

"You're in a coliseum kid." He replied with a stoic tone. Percy cursed silently, the pieces slowly coming together.

"If you want to escape, then forget it. Virtually impossible." The man added. Percy cursed again, albeit a bit more audible.

"Yeah, that's my reaction too when I first found out." He replied with a small chuckle.

"Is there a chance?" Percy asked.

"Oh sure is. You just need to face off a nigh unkillable warrior, no big deal." He said sarcastically. Percy took note of this, maybe there was a chance that he could defeat this opponent in combat.

"How do I fight this so-called warrior?" Percy asked. He could faintly hear the sound of wheezing coming from the cell next door.

"Before that, you still need to face off the lower-ranked warriors. You rise up the ranks and eventually face him off." He explained. Percy nodded, already trying to formulate a way to get himself out.

"But to face him off you still need to wait days, weeks, maybe even months. That's assuming that you manage to rise up the ranks and defeat the lower and higher ranked gladiators." He added.

Percy cursed again. He didn't have that much time. If he overstayed his welcome that would sure be the difference between life and death. He also had to find out where Yorath was which would prove to be challenging. Nothing was working out for the son of time.

"When would the fight start?" Percy asked.

"Oh, it already is. It's just a matter if you're chosen to be the next contestant or not." The man added nonchalantly.

"Have you tried to escape?" 

"Oh, I tried once. But once I saw that gladiator in combat. Once I saw what he was capable of. I immediately ceased all my attempts. There was simply no way of beating that warrior in combat." He added with a bittersweet laugh.

"Then what do you do all day?" Percy questioned.

"Eat, drink, sleep. Wait for the next battle. Survive. Repeat." The man stated with a monotonous tone.

"That's horrible." 

"Perhaps. But it's better than trying to get out and dying a gruesome death. I'd prefer living than meeting death head-on." The man sighed out.

"Your day-to-day activities aren't exactly what I would call living." Percy pointed out.

"It is what it is."

"Hey Six Hundred Fifty-One, you're up!" Someone called out. Percy peeked through the bars and saw multiple guards in front of the person's cell, key in hand, and unlocking the cell doors. The person that Percy was speaking to was brought out with cuffs across his wrists accompanied by guards in case he tried anything. 

The guards passed Percy's cell and he got a good look at the person he was speaking to. What surprised him was that the man that he assumed was in his twenties looked a few years older than him physically. The best word to describe his demeanor was cold and stoic. He had a scar across his face which he guessed was the result of multiple battles over his lifetime.

"I may or may not come out of this alive. Goodbye and good luck rookie." He said in a deadpanned voice and was dragged out to what he assumed was the arena. 

Percy cursed, trying to break free from the cuffs once again but failing miserably. Although Firestorm was still with him, he couldn't even reach his signature weapon, making the idea of using Firestorm to escape moot.

He sighed and sat down, calming his nerves. Panic would not be beneficial. He kept repeating it in his head as he tried to steel himself.  He checked his watch subconsciously and cursed mentally. Time was running out. And he could do nothing but watch. His situation gave him nothing to work with.

For now, all he could do was wait until an opportunity arises. Even though he knew that there was nothing else to do. He still dreaded the feeling of staying in one place whilst death came inching closer and closer with each second. He thought about using his powers to escape. Though that would only speed up his death and rid him of his energy.

Using his powers was out of the equation. He couldn't even reach Firestorm which also rids himself of that option. He couldn't break out of the cuffs even if he wanted to. The cuffs themselves weren't anything special. They were only made out of normal steel. Yet his strength kept failing him more and more frequently. 

He knew he shouldn't check his watch to avoid panicking. Yet the urge was too strong. He checked again out of habit and scolded himself.

He only had two days remaining. He had to make it count.

---

Percy closed his eyes, trying to get some shuteye. Yet he could hear the screams of the gladiators getting maimed and falling in battle. It was not a good sound to fall asleep to. He concluded that he had no way of escaping until a situation presented itself. Now all he could do was sleep and get some rest. It was proving to be difficult, however. 

Another shrill scream came echoing through the chambers making Percy shiver out of instinct. He was getting anxious. Although he was well versed in combat, he still had no idea what to expect. He may have battled gods and deities, but it didn't mean in this reality every person was as powerful as a god. He shuddered at the thought. 

If that was the case, then it would prove to be very difficult to find Yorath and get the hell out of there.

With his eyes shut, he could faintly hear the sound of footsteps approaching his general direction. He raised his eyebrows as more footsteps joined. He sat upright, looking through the cell bars, curious as to what it meant. He didn't know if it was his time to fight, or if it was just some random guard on patrol. 

The person from before passed through the cell with multiple cuts and bruises all across his body. He had seen better days that's for sure. The guard threw him at his cell then locked it, not giving him another thought. 

"You survived another day Six Hundred Fifty-One. Here's your meal." The guard spoke with no emotion whatsoever. He tossed some bread and some cups of water to the cell beside him and left with no other words spoken.

"What happened?" Percy asked.

"The usual. Gladiators here and there. People dying, blood everywhere. The normal." He said with a monotonous tone. He could faintly hear the guy eating his bread and drinking water through the cell. 

"What's it like out there?" Percy asked.

"You'll find out soon enough. But the one word I can describe it is chaotic." He replied nonchalantly.

"Got any tips for me?" Percy asked. He needed info on what he was facing. He had to have at least some background before he gets chosen to fight. He didn't want to go in blind. He wanted to formulate at least some semblance of a plan.

"It's a duel. Whoever kills the other person gets to eat. Unless you are fighting the higher-ranked gladiators. You're probably going to fight the average fighter." He explained as Percy nodded.

"How powerful are these 'average' fighters?" Percy questioned.

"Like the average Joe. Ranging from little to no combat experience. Does not know how to wield weapons properly. No powers or magical weaponry. Those type of fighters." He stated, chowing down on his bread.

"How do they select opponents that you face off?" Percy inquired. 

"Depends on how they see your ability to fight. If you are good, they move you up the rank and give you more powerful opponents. If you suck but manage to survive the duel. You stay at roughly the same rank." He explained.

"Do you move up the rank?" 

"I try not to. It would not be wise. I know how to fight don't get me wrong. But I try to look as idiotic as possible but manage to win by what they would assume is luck. So I get to eat, and still maintain my rank and battle the same ranked warriors." He added.

"If you want to survive. Do what I do. You wouldn't want to face off magic-wielding gladiators." He advised with a deadpan voice.

"I see." Percy contemplated, knowing at least some information on what he was facing.

"Thank you er-" He stopped, not knowing his name.

"Luke. Luke Castellan. But I doubt surnames would be of importance." He introduced himself with a small chuckle. 

"Hey newbie, you're up." A voice called out right as multiple guards went in front of Percy's cell, keys in hand. They unlocked the cell doors and opened them, the rusty iron door creaking from the sudden movement. 

Percy stood up, a bit frightened that he was picked early. He would have guessed he had a few more hours until he would be picked. Guess his luck was just not with him today. Percy walked out of the cell, his eyes taking a minute to adjust to the sudden light change.

"Good luck out there," Luke added as Percy was dragged away from his cell and through the corridors. With each footstep, he could faintly hear the sound of gladiatorial combat sound closer and closer. 

The guard stopped, making Percy raise his eyebrow. There was a golden gate that blocked their way. The guards unlocked the door and turned towards Percy with keys on hand.

Multiple bowmen trained their aim at him in case he tried anything. The guards unlocked his handcuffs, giving him the freedom of using his hands again. If it weren't for the archers, he would have bolted.

The guards pushed Percy through the gate and closed it without a second thought. Inside was a room that was made out of stone and wood with multiple benches and weapon racks around the area. 

There were arrays of weapons of the sort, ranging from bows to swords to shields and even weapons that he had no idea existed. He was quite surprised that bows and swords also existed in this reality. 

Even with the number of weapons on display, he didn't need any of those. He had Firestorm strapped to his side. In addition, he had the benefit of igniting it if need be. He hopefully wouldn't have to resort to igniting his trusty sword in fear of being moved up the ranks.

"You ready kid?" A guard asked through the gate. Percy shook his head.

The guard merely laughed. "Well good luck. You'll need it."

The gate opened as sunlight flooded throughout the room, making his eyes adjust for the second time in the span of a few minutes. 

"Now for another round!" A booming voice echoed throughout the area making Percy jump a bit at the loudness.

"Gladiators! Step out of your quarters and prepare to fight!" The booming voice announced.

Percy sighed, rubbing his wrists and stepping out of the room and onto the arena. 

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