The wind picked up dust into the air. But as it passed between the two warriors, It would either get cut or turned into heat.

Everyone had their eyes on Leo or Matsumoto, they could feel that the heat and the sharp air in this place wasn't the environment. Both of them stood there without moving, Leo smiled and winked at the samurai. Suddenly everyone saw how the sun Rays concentrated on the samurai sword and it melt in an instant.

"Come on, fight me seriously." Said Leo as he hit his hammer with his shield making the air vibrate. The vibration carried on with the heat, guided by an invisible force.

The samurai slowly unsheathed his real katana with his left thumb, grabbing it with his right hand, he brought it back inside into its cover. The vibrations and heat where cut in half, the force of the swing continued on towards Leo. The floor was getting cut as it went, Silent, but deadly. "Wings of the night" whispered The Samurai.

Leo smirked and using his hammer he brought up dirt from the ground and hit it with his shield. The shield glowed red, once it touched the dirt. It turned to lava. " Lava Manipulation #1, Minotaur!" Exclaimed Leo while Runes covered the lava. In the blink of an eye a wall of lava turned into a humongous Minotaur. Its eyes glowed Orange red. It roared and smashed its fist over the upcoming attack from the samurai. The attack penetrated the giants punch all the way to its shoulder.

*whistle* "Not bad Sensei. Hahahaha, but I'm not done yet." The samurai suddenly backed away. Trying to stay off the ground. He sliced the floor and kicked up a huge boulder. He stood on it. Right below him a fist of lava appeared and missed him by inches. The samurai's hat burned to ashes.

"Hm... not bad my Apprentice." Said the Samurai with a smile.

Everyone where on the edges of their seats. "Leo!!! That is so cool. Your Minotaur's arm healed instantly!." Percy couldn't keep still and was screaming from the stands.

"Of course Bro!! This here is only the beginning!. I am going to show you... that I can finally protect those important to me!!!" The minotaur reacted to his emotions and glowed from red to white. It grew smaller and more compact. Leo rushed forward. The samurai saw this and rushed forward with such speed that the ground broke away.

"I cant let him get near his golem!!" Exclaimed the samurai bringing out his katana with such force the wind was being cut apart around him. But no matter how fast he was. He wasn't expecting to see Leo's Golem also go to him.

They both crashed together and the Minotaur fused with Leo. His body was covered in an armor of Lava, his shield fused with it and became armor as well. The hammer slowly started to glow golden. "FESTUS!! LET'S DO THIS!!!" the gold hammer transformed into a long sledgehammer with the head part being big. It grew very fast. Leo held on to the Hammer. His whole being covered by the gold white lava armor. His hammer shining gold. His whole being looked like a god. "Torus of the Flame Stage 1!!" Leo squeezed his hands on his hammer. He could feel the power... this was the first time he actually tried it. "We did it Torus!!".

"Leo, we only got 10 seconds, before this form disappears!" Even though Torus sounded in a hurry. He was very excited to see Leo manage to do this. But also sad...

"No problem Buddy! That's all we need." Leo got in his stance to fight, just like Order had taught them.

"Sigh.... oh Leo, not bad. But have you not noticed, that he hasn't even showed 10% of his real power?" Whispered Luke. Percy's ears picked up on his whisper. And he concentrated on the samurai. He felt the force still locked inside.

"No wonder he is, the 3rd strongest from all of you." Percy said without looking at them. They furrowed their brows. Surprised at Percy knowing their levels of power.

"You've grown buddy" said Luke with a grin.

"I have... but none of you know Leo like I do. Only Ms.Esperanza knows." Percy side glance at her. And she had her hands grasping the table, her white knuckles where showing.

"Do not try to interfere Esperanza." Said Arthur.

"You don't get it... I'm getting ready to help our friend the samurai." She said slowly. A few of them were surprised. But not Percy.

"I will show you a real battle Leo." Said the samurai as he turned his katana towards the floor. His body glowed and a full set of red armor appeared on his body. His Japanese Samurai Armor had an Aura in itself.

Leo charged, brandishing his hammer up high. The light of the sun gathered on top of the hammer and he swung it. The orb of light traveled so fast it made no sound. The samurai turned his katana and slashed in a simple manner up. The light was slashed 20 times. It dissipated into nothingness. The samurai slowly moved his right foot. But Leo already flashed to his right. His hammer heading towards his shoulder. The samurai already had his katana heading to Leo's head. Leo didnt stop and continued his attack. His head flew in the air, blood filled the air. Leo's body melted to lava and behind the samurai his hammer had already strucked his back. The samurai jumped forward using the momentum of the hit to diminish the amount of power behind the strike.

"Ugh... it felt like an entire mountain smashing my back" said the samurai. "You have learned more than I thought, but..." The Samurai got in a stance. His katana back in its scabbard. He tilted forward until His face got very low to the ground, "This will end it." He took a deep breath. The entire air in the arena started to vibrate. "Kata-no Vipers Strike of the Heavens" as the samurai finished he was already by Leo's neck. A supersonic sound echoed throughout the arena.

"Ten seconds are done." Said Torus. Leo's body got back to normal. His shield turned back to his bracelet and the lava fell back to the floor. Festus transformed into another bracelet. Leo was exposed. The samurai saw this and smiled. But his expression suddenly got stiff and he started to sweat. Leo brought out a normal looking hammer. His clothes changed into that of a smith. In the eyes of everyone. The samurai had stopped in front of Leo. But in the Samurai's eyes Leo was huge, and he was a little tiny thing about to be used as a material to build. His whole being telling him to run. The last time he felt this way was when he met the primordials.

Leo slowly brought up his hammer. His eyes glowing White, his whole demeanor changed.
Everyone felt like Leo just put you on top of an anvil to hit with his hammer.

"A-Amazing... He did it, my son has touched his Origin Essence" said a voice in the sky. But Nobody heard it.

In a flash Esperanza appeared in front of Leo. "Enough mijo! You won!" She screamed. Leo stopped and put his hammer away. Then he fell towards his mother's embrace.

As he fell asleep, he looked at her eyes. "I missed you so much mama... so much...." a few tears fell down his cheeks. Leo's body glowed white until he turned into his 16 year old self, his body was still built, but not too crazy and bronze, everything the same.

Esperanza held to her son. Her tears falling none stop. The samurai finally woke up from his scare and his katana continued, you could tell he was trying to stop his attack, to the point he was bleeding from the mouth. His attack was heading towards both Leo and Esperanza. The rest of the gods reacted quickly to stop him. But a blue flash stopped his katana and broke it in half.

In front of him stood a young boy with black raven hair. His eyes shining blue. Behind him a long tail flicked back the broken part of the katana. "I know you didn't meant to do that. The force of your attack couldn't be stopped. But it's no problem to me." Percy's tone was calm. But the strength backing it up send shivers up everyone's spine.

"Thank you Perseus... Arigatou." The samurai bowed once and walked off while holding a gourd and taking big gulps of it. "Let me know when our smith wakes up." With that he walked away, but not before spitting out a big mouthful of blood for forcefully stopping his attack. Also having his katana broken was what hurt him the most.

The rest of the gods sighed in relief. Luke had a huge smile on his face.

"Well, we didn't have to intervene huh?" He elbowed Arthur.

"Yeah, but I'm rather worried for Percy." Arthur stared at the Ninja on the chair. His hands shaking, His eyes shone with excitement.

Luke smiled, knowing what he meant. "Well obviously, between Leo and Percy, you can tell Percy is much faster and was actually calm and quiet when stopping Matsumoto's attack. Perfect balance. Whatever he did with Master Wu, it must have give him the chance to tap into his true potential. The teachings of Master Wu. Is giving you the opportunity to tap into your ultimate potential. He makes it look like they are giving you abilities, but in reality is waking your body and abilities up." Said Luke with a stretch.

"Ms. Esperanza, may I help Leo?" Asked Percy with a warm smile.

"Of course" she said with a simple smile. It reminded him of his mom. Percy smiled and put his hand on Leo's head. Moisture covered Leo, to the point it covered him in a water ball. Percy took a deep breath, "Hmph!!" Leo's body glowed blue and his cuts started healing. His complexion turned to his normal color. Which was bronze, Percy made a mental note to ask him about that later. A few seconds pass and the water dissipates.

"Wha... I need to make tacos... too hungry." Said Leo slowly opening his eyes.

"You don't need tacos!!! Wake up!!" Screamed a bird at him from the sky. Everyone looked up and saw a red bird diving towards Leo and landed on his head. It started to peck his head. But Leo wouldn't wake up.

"Um hello, who are you? Asked Percy at the red Bird.

"I'm Leo's Girlfriend." Said the bird in a soothing tone. Esperanza jumped at hearing that.

"Excuse me, but my son has a Girlfriend called Calypso. And that's not you." Esperanza held to her son. Not trusting the bird.

"Once he wakes up, you will see what I mean. Also Calypso it's a traitor. But that is for another time." Percy reacted to her saying that, and also he could feel a wave of power slowly trying to figure him out.

"You can check all you want. But please ask Red Bird." Percy told her.

Her eyes examining him, she laughed "Well Percy, I'm not a Bird. I am a Pheonix." A few of the gods gasped. But not Ramesses or Arthur. They both nodded at eachother. "Also if I want to check people or do anything. None of you can stop me. And that is a warning." Said Aurora in a mad tone her feathers ruffled up.

"And let me tell you Aurora.... watch it. Because I know what you did to my brother. If he wasn't back... I would've hunted you to the ends of any dimension." Warned Percy his eyes shining blue for one second. Aurora jumped at hearing her name, she then looked back and forward from Leo to Percy.

"Oh... that makes so much sense. Both of you are connected! Hm... I will take your words to heart Percy. Thank you for being Leo's Brother." Aurora bowed her head.

"Sigh... enough you two. I will take Leo to the tent." Esperanza took her son, walking with him in her arms reminded her of the times he would fall asleep in her shop. She would carry him to his bed and sing a lullaby... but when Hera appeared and told her what was going to happen... she didn't want to do it. But then Aether appeared when Hera tried to kill her in the fire. She was taken away and not until Luke appeared did she reawaken. She got to the tent and laid Leo down on a bed. She eyed her son with a smile and gave him a kiss on his forehead. Even after all this time she could see that he hadn't changed at all. Only that his skin was more like bronze and more built, his ears more pointy like an elf and his hair got even darker. But apart from that he was still her little hijo Leo. She left the tent and saw Percy walking over.

He had the Pheonix on his shoulder "And that's basically what happened... now I'm on a quest to get stronger and save everyone..."

"Will you be able to forgive them?" Asked the pheonix.

"I don't know... I feel like for me to grow I must. But they forgot my fatal flaw, I am Loyal. They abandoned me, betrayed me, And that I can not forgive... we will see once the training is done." Aurora looked at Percy in a new light after talking to him for a while. "So how did you both meet?" Asked Percy, very interested in what Leo went through.

"Well Young Percy, if you'd like to know. You may ask Leo in a few hours. His body should be recharging right about now." She flew inside the tent. Percy followed her. Moving aside the flap he saw the latino elf sleeping. He sat next to his bed and smiled at his peaceful sleep.

"WAKE UP!!! YOU FLAMING CANDLE!!!!" Screamed Percy While throwing cold water out of nowhere.

"I'm awake!!!! Aaaahh that's cold Perce!!!" Leo gasped for air, his body rapidly radiating heat to dry himself. Percy was laughing none stop. "What are you laughing at you Blue Lizard!" Screamed Leo at him. Percy kept laughing and Leo put his hands on his hair. "Damn it Percy really?!" Leo's hair was frozen upwards, looking like a Frost Troll.

"You- Hahahahaha!!!.... I can't breath!!! Oh no, look the troll is mad!!" Said Percy in a dramatic tone, while he ran out of the tent. Because a torrent of flames was right behind him. The whole thing burned down. "Aww are you angry, little Flaming Troll?"

"You know he does remind me of you a lot." Aurora couldn't stop smiling at the amusement of seeing Leo angry. It would get her excited, her feathers ruffling and her purr? (Lol idk)

"Hmph... hehehe I'll get him back 😈." Leo laughed evily and checked himself. "Why do I look like a bodybuilder that is 16 years old again?" Leo summoned a mirror and looked at himself.

"That is because your father did so, that way you and Percy are the same age, you both are brothers after all" said a warm voice from behind him.

Leo jumped at the voice and his heart started to beat faster.

Aurora flinched, because she could feel the pain and sadness that was barely being held by him.

He turned around and looked at this Latina woman, with Black long hair in a ponytail. Mechanic clothes, warm Honey color eyes. Her smile could stop any war. You could tell that she was Leo's Mother Esperanza.

"Mama.... por que desde tantos Años... yo te vi en el fuego y... todo fue mi culpa (Mom.... Why after all these years.... I saw you in the fire and..... Everything was my fault)" Leo was on his knees with tears falling. His mom walked forward and hugged his son.

"Its okay hijo... I'm here now. No need to feel guilty. The one who started the fire was not you, but your father." Her answer confused him. "Don't miss understand. If he didn't do that, Gaia or Hera would have killed me. Now come over here, your hair is way too long." She made a gesture for Leo to walk towards her. And also to Percy.

Leo and Percy walked towards her. She waved her hand and two metal blocks appeared out of nowhere. They clicked as they hit the floor and then transformed into two Barber chairs. Leo marveled at the mechanics of the chair, Percy whistled and sat down.

"Ohhhh! Mom, I have something similar to it, check it out I-" he got cut off by his mom, she grabbed him by his shirt and siat him down forcefully. He didnt even get a chance to speak.

"Well now, what would you like?" She asked with a chippy tone.

Percy was fast to answer, because Leo always talked about horrible haircuts. "Well Ms. Valdez, can I have a military haircut? I've always liked the Roman haircut." Percy actually looked like a seaweed head after being for so long with Wu. But Leo's hair wasnt as crazy, only long. Esperanza nodded and waved her hand, clippers appeared and after just a few minutes percy looked all ready. His well built body with that haircut made him look more mature.

But dont forget that they have been returned to their younger versions for now.

Leo got excited as he saw percy smiling with his new hair cut. "Me too Mom!! Just like that PPPPPPLLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSSEEEEE!!! Ouch! Stop Aurora!! I'll shut up!!" Leo's scream was stopped by Aurora. Esperanza nodded with a smile. After a few buzzes here and there Leo was ready to go.

"Alright, now we can call ourselves brothers!!" Leo puffed out his chest. "Although yours is a bit shorter than mine... what If I get a mohawk? Or maybe go bold?! Whaaaa so many ideas that- okay fine!!! Stop pecking me Aurora!! Here have some fire." Leo brought out his hands and fed her some little fires. She sipped them up like liquid.

*clap clap* "Okay now, everyone follow me. We must go back to the main plaza. There is someone waiting for you Leo." Esperanza winked at Leo and pinched his right cheek. Percy thought about bothering him about it, but he suddenly was hit with sadness, because even after all this time. He still hadn't visited his Mom Sally Jackson. Both Percy and Leo walked behind Esperanza.

On the way there Leo explained the true teachings about Matsumoto. "At first I didn't know... more like I wanted to survive in those plains. But I got the chance to meet so many different species. It felt luke a world inside lord of the rings." Percy open his eyes wide, "Let me finish before you ask questions Blue Lizard... Now, being in the volcano, I could hear a voice guiding me with patience and understanding. My usual chaotic mind calmed down. I would sit and meditate after every obstacle." Leo took a deep breath. His while demeanor changed. Percy and Esperanza couldn't believe this was Leo, the crazy demigod of Fire.

"It gave me an opportunity for me to see my creations already done in my mind, all I had to do was put them together outside my mind. Sensei's voice taught me so much. Not only on forging with my mind, but fighting as well." He stared at his right hand and closed it slowly.

Percy nodded understanding a bit. Master Tiger taught him something similar, and also did Master Wu. "My previous teachers, taught me something similar. Now I can fight better and use my anger in a way to fuel my fighting and become better."

Leo slowly nodded and smiled, "Exactly... when I finished forging, I managed to fix my buddy Festus into what you all saw today... Together with my other teacher Torus. I felt so alive. I touched a part of me that I never knew existed. Holding my hammer... looking at the materials, the feeling of the air... the fire, the water... the elements. There is so much more into forging that we all knew." Leo smiled really big, "And now when I meet Zeus again... he will regret hurting you brother. His children and everyone who abandoned you will suffer...*sigh* but then again. Is it worth it? I believe it is. Also hehehehe I wouldn't mind pranking them, because now I can make some badass creations Perce... what do you think?" Leo smiled evily, Percy side grinned and laughed evily with Leo.

Esperanza watched them both speak. She thought her little Leo would change, but she felt a sense of calmness now. She was assured that her son was still the same, only a bit more mature... no more intellectual maybe. She shuddered at the thought, because Leo already had a terrifying mind for creating, imagine now how he can actually calm down and create... a monster. And let's not forget about Percy. When he came through the portal his demeanor looked the same... but everyone felt a sense of panic. Because it was like the calm before a storm.

"Mom?" Leo touched her shoulder.

She jumped and laughed, "Sorry mijo, look he is waiting for you. I'll be by the fountain."

Leo followed her finger to spot Matsumoto seating underneath a sakura tree that Percy planted there for him. He kept looking at his huge gourd in his hand with disappointment. Leo elbowed Percy and hinted at him to go with him.

Percy declined, "Not for me Brother Candle, go to him. I have to speak with Master Wu." Percy bro fist Leo and head on over to a Wu, he sat next to Esperanza. She was showing him the mechanics of an airplane.

"Catch!" Leo threw a small gourd at Matsumoto. He obviously catched it and with a smooth wave he popped the lid and smelled it. His smile and relaxation covered him intensely.

"Arigatou Leo." He took a big gulp and then noticed that it felt the same. He took another big gulp and it felt the same heaviness. "What?" His face confused.

"I made you a gourd that will never run out of your favorite sake, I made it a few months ago. It has the same properties as my bag that is never ending. This way, you will always be able to enjoy your favorite drink." Leo chuckled and sat down next to him underneath the Sakura Tree. He picked up a flower and turned it around his finger, the smooth pink color this flower had brought a few ideas in his mind. But he pushed them aside, he could feel that Matsumoto had something to talk about.

"Well Sensei... hand over your-" Leo didnt even had a chance to ask before, a broken Katana was presented next to him in the grass.

"Do I have permission to touch it?" Leo asked, he knew that samurai's were very close to their Katana. Matsumoto nodded and kept drinking from the gourd with a small smile adorned on his face.

Leo passed his hands over the handle, the blade and the broken shard of the blade as well. "This seems to have an entity... but it's very weak." Matsumoto eyed him from the side, "But not to worry, I can fix this Katana and also revive the entity and make it so its whole again."

He dropped the gourd and turned to Leo, "I was told that wasn't possible... fixing my.... friend... yes, but reviving her to full health?" Matsumoto's reaction surprised Leo,

but he quickly understood. "Was this your...-"

"Yes... my daughter was slaughtered along with my entire clan. But I was given that Katana by some old man, his hands had scars and a long black beard, he told me, to not give up and to continue on. I took the katana and felt my daughter's presence." He calmed down again. His whole demeanor had a sad aura. Leo whispered something to Aurora, she nodded and flew to Percy's shoulder.
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After a few seconds Percy walked to Leo and waited on the side.

The ground began to shake and out from the ground appeared an Anvil, Leo walked forward and placed the broken 2 halves of the katana. When he brought out his usual Hammer, his whole demeanor changed. The other gods gathered, excited to see Leo's craft. Percy walked to the other side of the Anvil. Leo lined up the two pieces and brought up the hammer, when he brought it down, 5 hits could be heard, and sparks filled the air. And again and again, the sounds of the hammer hitting the katana filled the plaza. Percy waited patiently. Leo's gaze was intently fixated on his work. The sword started glowed red and yellow, runes started to glow on the Anvil, they slowly made their way to the katana. A small cry could be heard. Matsumoto flashed next to Leo, but was held by Luke.

"Let him finish." He whispered to his ear. Matsumoto struggled, every single time Leo strucked the katana, that cry would get more and more louder, it sounded like he was killing a little girl. Matsumoto's forehead had a few vessels popping up, his anger filling the air with bloodlust. Luke started slowly sweating. Starting to struggle with an angry Father.

"Calm yourself Matsumoto!" Screamed Luke, he could barely hold to him, the rest of the gods tried to get close, but where pushed away by Percy's stare. "No need to intervene, if he hadn't had that reaction, I would've denied to help Leo.

With that everyone calmed down, except for Luke and Matsumoto.

The cries now sounded like an unbearable pain. But as the sword merged together, Percy slowly put his hand over the sword. A blue Aura covered it and slowly made it's way to the katana that was whole again. It went from orange to blue. The screams had stopped. Percy smiled and nodded at Leo. While he grinned at him, Leo's hammer glowed white. He gathered his force and power on the hammer. You could feel the pressure building up. Matsumoto could feel that this could destroy the katana forever. He overpowered Luke and threw a punch at Leo, which landed on his face, but Leo kept going with the hammer to the katana and hit it. There was no sound, only that with a rush of wind a shadow came out from the Katana. With an "eep" a girl with black straight hair appeared on the floor, she looked surprised and confused.  She had a resemblance to Matsumoto. She ran to her father and hugged him, crying over and over. Everyone stood there dumbfounded. Percy smiled and walked back towards the fountain, using the water to cover his right hand. Only Leo saw that Percy's right hand got super skinny after helping him out. Leo put away the Anvil and his hammer. Cleaning his forehead he brought out water bottle and drank a few big gulps and sat back down on the grass underneath the sakura tree. His complexion tired, and sweating profoundly.

"How- what-" Luke couldn't understand how he did that.

"Wait... then Percy?" Esperanza looked at Percy's hand in the water and Leo's tired expression. "Percy... used his own life force to bring her essence back from spirit form... and Leo used... the power of the heavens and Flame of Life... to craft her a new body and... wow" Percy smiled at Esperanza's answer. Because she was right.

"It... it's not a big deal... *huff huff huff* I just need to take a few breaths   and maybe eat?" Leo hinted at his mom.

She smiled, "I'll get started right away hijo, Come Luke and also all of you. I need your help." She made the rest of them follow her.

"Oh we get to try Esperanza's Food for the very first time. That's new for us hahahaha" Arthur looked to be excited. "She wouldn't do any of that before... this is the first time I've seen her this happy." As they walked away, Percy checked his right hand, it looked normal again and you could tell he was happy about what just happened.

"Master Horse wasn't wrong... there is so much more to healing... but there must be a sacrifice to be made in exchange for that life. Maybe re attaching an arm or a leg wouldn't take that much. But bringing that girl back from that... I had to sacrifice my right hand. But also by doing so... I learned a way to heal even better than Apollo maybe." Percy walked over to Leo and gave him a hand to get up.

"We did it brother." Leo smiled and gave Percy his hand. They both grinned at fist bumped.

"Thank you so much Leo... Now I can rest in peace... my job done, and my regret has been fulfilled." Matsumoto kept hugging her daughter. Both their figures slowly disappearing, Leo quickly got closer to them, "wait! What is going on!?"

Percy put his hand on his shoulder. "Brother... even though they look alive and everything... they are still spirits, they must crossover"

Leo looked at the floor clenching his fists, "so... does that mean that mom... and the others?"

Percy sighed, "yes..."

"How long have you known..?" Leo held back his pain.

"When... when I came back from training with Master Wu... I could see traces of their energies and more with my eyes of Sea... I acted normal, But they saw my facial reaction, so... yeah." Percy patted Leo's back and walked over to Matsumoto and his daughter. "Here... with this token you will be greeted by my uncle. And you will be able to go together with your mother and wife." Matsumoto looked up quickly at Percy and grabbed the gold token from Percy's hand. "That's all I can do for you both.  Stay together and may.... Chaos bless you both." After Percy finished his words, they both flashed and their disappearing bodies glowed for a bit and then disappeared. Leo was bowing down to his master in both respect and as thanks for taking care of him. When he looked up, his expression was one of someone that made up their minds.

"Let's go, mom is waiting....and perce..." Leo stopped, still looking down "don't tell mom that I know." Percy nodded and put his hand on his shoulder.

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It took me a while, but now this story is finally heading in the right direction. To throw a hint, on the next chapter they will be returning to their Earth... let's see how they will fare.... poor Leo...😭